The night had always been a time of solace for Jack and Mira. It was in these quiet moments that they would reflect, strategize, and recharge for the war that loomed over the galaxy. However, as the cold silence of the deep space around them encased their ship, a new weight began to press on their shoulders.
Jack leaned against the viewport, staring at the distant stars that had been his guiding lights for so long. Mira, ever the strategist, sat at the table, her fingers absentmindedly tapping against a glowing console. They had been fighting the dark force for years now, but in the wake of their latest victory, something gnawed at them. It wasn't just the lingering sense of dread. It was something more subtle, more insidious.
"Jack," Mira's voice broke through the quiet, her tone laced with an edge of concern. "Do you ever feel like we're being watched?"
Jack didn't look away from the stars but nodded slowly. "It's not just you. I've had the same feeling since we left the moon base." His mind replayed the past few days, the subtle shifts in behavior from their allies, the way some seemed just a bit too eager to please, others a little too distant. They were all soldiers in this endless war, but trust had always been their most precious commodity. It was fragile, easily broken and Jack had learned that lesson the hard way.
Just then, a sudden alert broke the tension. A transmission came through, crackling with static.
"Commander Jack," came the familiar voice of Captain Kellen, one of their most trusted allies. "We've got a problem. There's a breach at the command center. I… I'm afraid it's someone from within our ranks."
Jack's blood ran cold. "Kellen, what are you talking about? Who's behind it?"
"I'm not sure yet," Kellen replied, his voice wavering. "But it looks like someone's turned. I have reason to believe they're working with the dark force."
Mira's hand shot up instinctively, signaling Jack to remain calm. "Tell us everything you know," she demanded, her voice as steely as ever.
Kellen hesitated for a moment before continuing, his words slow and deliberate. "It's Rax. I'm certain of it. He's been slipping in and out of communications with their leader, and we've intercepted a transmission. It's him. He's working with the dark force now."
The revelation hit Jack like a thunderclap. Rax had been with them since the beginning—one of the original crew members who had fought alongside them during the first major battles against the dark force. To hear that he had betrayed them, joined the very enemy they had been fighting, felt like a dagger to the heart.
"No," Jack muttered under his breath. "It can't be him. Rax would never—"
But Mira was already moving. "We need to act fast. Kellen, hold your position. Don't let him escape. We'll be there shortly."
Jack wanted to protest, to demand more information, but he knew there was no time. This was no longer just about the galaxy's future it was about their trust, their bond with the people they'd fought beside for years. Rax's betrayal was a personal wound, and it would cut deeper than any battle wound ever could.
They rushed to the command center, the cold steel of the ship's corridors reflecting their hurried steps. Jack's mind raced. How had they missed this? How could Rax, someone they had trusted implicitly, turn on them without a single sign? The implications were overwhelming, but there was no time to process it. They had to stop him.
When they arrived, the room was eerily silent. The rest of the crew, still loyal to Jack and Mira, stood tense, their eyes darting toward the large monitor in the center of the room. On it was a transmission, showing Rax's face with a sinister smirk that made Jack's stomach churn.
"So, the traitor finally shows his face," Mira muttered under her breath.
"Jack, Mira," Rax's voice came through loud and clear. "I didn't want it to end like this. But the truth is, you've been fighting a losing battle from the start. The dark force is inevitable. It's time you realized that. The galaxy doesn't need your kind of rebellion anymore. What it needs is control. Power. And I've found a way to achieve that."
"Rax, you've lost your mind," Jack's voice was harsh, filled with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "You're working with them? After everything we've been through?"
Rax's smirk widened. "I've seen the light, Jack. You're blinded by your ideals. Mira, I've always respected you, but even you can't deny it's time for change. It's time for the dark force to reign. We're going to crush everything you've fought for."
Mira stepped forward, her eyes cold and calculating. "Not if I can help it. You think we'll just let you turn us into pawns in their game? You're making a grave mistake, Rax."
Rax's expression darkened. "A mistake? No, Mira. This is the future. This is the way things are meant to be. You and Jack are too stubborn to see it."
The transmission cut off abruptly, leaving a tense silence in its wake. Jack felt as though the weight of the universe had settled on his chest. The betrayal wasn't just tactical—it was deeply personal. Rax had been like family. How could they have been so blind?
"Jack," Mira spoke again, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside. "We can't let this stand. We need to get to him, and we need to do it now."
Jack nodded, though his heart felt heavy. "I'm not just fighting for the galaxy anymore. This is personal. We trusted him. And now I'll make sure he regrets betraying us."
Mira gave a small, knowing nod. "We'll stop him. Together."
As they prepared to confront Rax, Jack's mind spun with a thousand thoughts. How could someone so close, so integral to their cause, switch sides so easily? What did this mean for their future? For the galaxy?
There were so many unknowns, but one thing was certain Rax had made his choice. And Jack was about to make his.
The battle ahead was no longer just a war for the galaxy. It was a battle for everything Jack had fought for. His beliefs, his friendships, his future. And he would stop at nothing to ensure that Rax's betrayal didn't break the bond they had spent years building.
The dark force had one new ally, but Jack and Mira had each other. And that was a power Rax would never understand.
Terjemahan Indonesia:
Malam selalu menjadi waktu yang penuh ketenangan bagi Jack dan Mira. Dalam momen-momen sunyi ini, mereka merenung, merencanakan, dan mengumpulkan kembali tenaga untuk perang yang masih membayangi galaksi. Namun, saat heningnya ruang angkasa yang gelap mengelilingi kapal mereka, sebuah beban baru mulai menekan pundak mereka.
Jack bersandar pada kaca jendela kapal, menatap bintang-bintang jauh di sana yang telah lama menjadi penunjuk arahnya. Mira, sang ahli strategi, duduk di meja, jarinya secara tak sadar mengetuk-ngetuk konsol yang menyala. Mereka telah bertarung melawan kekuatan gelap selama bertahun-tahun, tetapi setelah kemenangan terbaru mereka, ada sesuatu yang mengusik mereka. Bukan hanya rasa waspada yang membayangi. Ada sesuatu yang lebih halus, lebih mengancam.
"Jack," suara Mira memecah keheningan, nada suaranya terasa tajam. "Apakah kamu merasa seperti kita sedang diawasi?"
Jack tidak berbalik dari jendela tetapi mengangguk perlahan. "Bukan hanya kamu. Aku merasa hal yang sama sejak kita meninggalkan pangkalan bulan." Pikiran Jack terus berputar, mengingat kembali beberapa hari terakhir, perubahan kecil dalam sikap sekutu mereka, cara beberapa orang tampak sedikit terlalu ingin menyenangkan, sementara lainnya sedikit terlalu jauh. Mereka semua adalah pejuang dalam perang yang tak ada habisnya ini, namun kepercayaan selalu menjadi komoditas yang paling berharga. Kepercayaan itu rapuh, mudah hancur dan Jack sudah belajar pelajaran itu dengan cara yang keras.
Tiba-tiba, sebuah peringatan datang dan memecah ketegangan. Sebuah transmisi masuk, bersuara gemerisik dengan statis.
"Komandan Jack," suara Kapten Kellen terdengar, salah satu sekutu terpercaya mereka. "Kami ada masalah. Terjadi kebocoran di pusat komando. Aku... aku takut itu datang dari dalam barisan kita."
Darah Jack seketika membeku. "Kellen, maksudmu apa? Siapa yang terlibat?"
"Aku yakin itu Rax. Aku yakin sekali. Dia sudah beberapa kali berkomunikasi dengan pemimpin mereka, dan kami berhasil menangkap transmisi. Itu dia. Dia bekerja sama dengan kekuatan gelap sekarang."
Kenyataan itu menghantam Jack seperti petir. Rax sudah bersama mereka sejak awal salah satu anggota tim asli yang telah bertarung bersama mereka selama pertempuran besar pertama melawan kekuatan gelap. Mendengar bahwa dia mengkhianati mereka dan bergabung dengan musuh yang selama ini mereka lawan, terasa seperti pisau yang menghujam hati.
"Tidak," Jack berbisik perlahan. "Tidak mungkin dia..."
Namun Mira sudah bergerak. "Kita harus cepat bertindak. Kellen, pertahankan posisi kalian. Jangan biarkan dia melarikan diri. Kami akan segera sampai."
Jack ingin protes, ingin meminta informasi lebih lanjut, tetapi dia tahu tidak ada waktu. Ini bukan hanya tentang masa depan galaksi ini tentang kepercayaan mereka, ikatan mereka dengan orang-orang yang telah mereka perjuangkan bersama selama bertahun-tahun. Pengkhianatan Rax adalah luka pribadi, dan itu akan lebih dalam daripada luka pertempuran mana pun.
Mereka berlari menuju pusat komando, lorong-lorong kapal yang dingin memantulkan langkah kaki mereka yang tergesa-gesa. Pikiran Jack berpacu. Bagaimana mereka bisa begitu terlena? Bagaimana bisa Rax, seseorang yang sangat mereka percayai, berbalik begitu saja tanpa tanda-tanda apa pun? Implikasi dari pengkhianatan ini sangat besar, tetapi tidak ada waktu untuk memikirkannya. Mereka harus menghentikannya.
Setibanya di sana, ruangan itu terasa aneh sepi. Sisa kru yang masih setia kepada Jack dan Mira berdiri dengan tegang, mata mereka tertuju pada monitor besar di tengah ruangan. Di layar itu terlihat wajah Rax dengan senyum sinis yang membuat perut Jack terasa mual.
"Jadi, pengkhianat akhirnya menampakkan wajahnya," Mira membisikkan perlahan.
"Jack, Mira," suara Rax terdengar jelas melalui transmisi. "Aku tidak ingin semuanya berakhir seperti ini. Tapi kenyataannya, kalian sudah berjuang dalam pertempuran yang kalah dari awal. Kekuatan gelap itu tak terelakkan. Sudah saatnya kalian sadar akan itu. Galaksi ini tidak butuh pemberontakan seperti kalian. Yang dibutuhkan adalah kontrol. Kekuasaan. Dan aku telah menemukan jalan untuk mencapainya."
Senyum Rax semakin melebar. "Aku sudah melihat kenyataannya, Jack. Kalian terjebak oleh idealisme kalian. Mira, aku selalu menghormatimu, tetapi bahkan kau pun tak bisa menyangkal bahwa sudah waktunya untuk perubahan. Waktunya kekuatan gelap berkuasa. Kita akan hancurkan semua yang telah kalian perjuangkan."
Mira melangkah maju, matanya dingin dan penuh perhitungan. "Tidak, Rax. Kau pikir kami akan membiarkanmu menjadikan kami pion dalam permainan mereka? Ini adalah kesalahan besar, Rax."
Senyum Rax berubah gelap. "Kesalahan? Tidak, Mira. Inilah masa depan. Inilah cara segala sesuatu seharusnya. Kalian, Jack dan Mira, terlalu keras kepala untuk melihatnya."
Transmisi itu terputus dengan tiba-tiba, meninggalkan keheningan tegang di ruang itu. Jack merasa seolah-olah seluruh alam semesta menimpa dadanya. Pengkhianatan ini bukan hanya masalah taktik ini adalah luka yang sangat pribadi. Rax adalah seperti keluarga bagi mereka. Bagaimana bisa mereka begitu buta?
"Jack," Mira berbicara lagi, suaranya tetap tenang meskipun badai sedang bergemuruh di dalam. "Kita tak bisa membiarkan ini begitu saja. Kita harus menemuinya, dan kita harus melakukannya sekarang."
Jack mengangguk, meskipun hatinya terasa berat. "Aku tidak hanya berjuang untuk galaksi lagi. Ini sudah menjadi urusan pribadi. Kami mempercayainya. Dan sekarang aku akan memastikan dia menyesali pengkhianatannya."
Mira memberi anggukan kecil, tahu betul apa yang sedang dipikirkan Jack. "Kita akan hentikan dia. Bersama-sama."
Saat mereka bersiap untuk menghadapi Rax, pikiran Jack berputar dengan seribu macam pertanyaan. Bagaimana seseorang yang begitu dekat, yang begitu penting bagi perjuangan mereka, bisa begitu mudah berpaling? Apa artinya ini untuk masa depan mereka? Untuk galaksi?
Ada begitu banyak yang belum diketahui, tetapi satu hal yang pasti, Rax sudah memilih. Dan Jack kini harus membuat pilihannya sendiri.
Pertempuran yang akan datang bukan hanya tentang galaksi. Ini adalah pertempuran untuk segala sesuatu yang telah diperjuangkan Jack. Keyakinannya, persahabatannya, masa depannya. Dan dia akan berhenti pada apapun untuk memastikan bahwa pengkhianatan Rax tidak menghancurkan ikatan yang telah mereka bangun selama bertahun-tahun.
Kekuatan gelap kini memiliki satu sekutu baru, tetapi Jack dan Mira masih memiliki satu sama lain. Dan itu adalah kekuatan yang tidak akan pernah dipahami oleh Rax.