**
---
The space around the ship was unlike anything Sora had ever seen. No stars, no nebulas—just an expanse of glowing, shifting light that seemed alive. It wasn't empty, though. Shapes moved in the distance, their outlines flickering like static, watching but not approaching.
Sora sat in the captain's seat—or what he assumed was the captain's seat. It was less a chair and more an extension of the ship itself, tendrils curling gently around his arms, connecting to his thoughts. The sensation was strange but not unpleasant, as if the ship were guiding him.
"What is this place?" he asked aloud.
The ship's voice resonated in his mind, calm but cryptic. *"A sanctuary. Between worlds. We are safe for now."*
"Safe? That's optimistic," he muttered, glancing at the faint scorch marks on the walls from the attack. "Who were those guys? And why are they after you—after *us*?"
The core in the center of the chamber pulsed softly, its light dimming and brightening in a rhythm that matched Sora's breathing. *"They are Seekers. Hunters of knowledge that must remain hidden. They pursue me because I hold the key to the First Song."*
"The First Song? What does that even mean?"
The ship hesitated, as if considering how much to reveal. Finally, it spoke. *"It is the origin of the universe. A harmonic frequency that birthed all existence. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could be weaponized to unmake reality."*
Sora leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "Great. So I've accidentally become the captain of the universe's most wanted ship. Just my luck."
The ship didn't laugh—it didn't seem to have a sense of humor—but its voice carried a faint warmth. *"You were chosen for a reason, Sora. The bond we share is no accident."*
He frowned. "You keep saying that. Chosen for what?"
Before the ship could answer, the glowing abyss around them began to shift. The shapes in the distance moved closer, their outlines becoming clearer. They weren't ships. They were creatures, vast and ethereal, their bodies composed of pure light.
Sora stood, instinctively raising his plasma cutter. "What are those?"
The ship's voice turned cautious. *"Starborn. Guardians of this place. They will test you."*
"Test me? For what?"
The nearest creature loomed before the ship, its glowing form stretching endlessly into the abyss. A deep, resonant sound filled the air—a chord so powerful that it made Sora's chest vibrate.
The ship responded, emitting its own tone, a complex melody that seemed to soothe the creature. The resonance between the two filled the space, creating a symphony that Sora could feel in his bones.
"What's happening?" he asked, gripping the edges of the console.
*"They are determining if you are worthy to proceed,"* the ship replied. *"Do not interfere."*
The creature's light grew brighter, and suddenly, a beam shot toward Sora. He flinched, expecting pain, but instead, his mind was flooded with visions.
He saw himself as a child, sitting under the stars with his father, who used to tell him stories about the vastness of the universe. He saw the years of solitude after his father's disappearance, the nights he spent staring at the stars, longing for answers.
The visions shifted, showing him images he didn't recognize—planets torn apart, civilizations reduced to dust, all at the hands of faceless enemies wielding the power of the First Song. And then he saw himself, standing at the heart of a radiant galaxy, the ship at his side, fighting to protect everything that remained.
The visions ended as abruptly as they began. Sora stumbled, gripping the console for support. The Starborn creature retreated, its form fading into the abyss.
"What... what was that?" he gasped.
The ship's voice was gentle but firm. *"A glimpse of what may come. They have deemed you worthy, for now."*
"Worthy? Worthy of what?"
Before the ship could answer, another alarm sounded—a soft chime, different from the wailing sirens of before. A holographic display appeared before him, showing a map of the surrounding space. At the edge of the luminous abyss, a rift was forming, and through it, Sora could see ships pouring in—sleek, black vessels with sharp angles, their weapons already primed.
"Seekers," Sora muttered, gripping the controls. "How did they find us?"
The ship didn't answer. Instead, it powered up, its core glowing brighter. The Starborn creatures began to retreat, their forms dissipating into the abyss.
Sora clenched his teeth. "Guess it's time to see what this ship can really do."
The controls responded to his thoughts, and the ship surged forward, weaving through the abyss as the Seekers gave chase. Beams of energy lanced out, narrowly missing the ship's hull.
"Any chance you've got weapons hidden somewhere?" Sora asked, his heart racing.
*"Engaging defenses,"* the ship replied. Panels on the hull opened, revealing organic cannons that glowed with the same light as the core. They fired beams of concentrated energy, striking one of the Seeker ships and sending it spiraling into the abyss.
Sora let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Okay, that's more like it."
But the Seekers weren't retreating. More ships poured through the rift, their weapons overwhelming the ship's defenses.
*"We cannot fight them all,"* the ship said. *"We must escape."*
Sora gritted his teeth. "I thought this place was supposed to be safe."
*"It was... until you entered."*
The ship accelerated, heading for the edge of the luminous abyss. The rift was closing, and if they didn't make it in time, they'd be trapped with the Seekers.
Sora focused, willing the ship to move faster. The controls responded, the engines roaring to life. Just as the rift began to collapse, the ship shot through, leaving the abyss and the Seekers behind.
Sora slumped in his seat, exhausted but alive.
"Is it always going to be like this?" he asked, half-joking.
The ship's voice was quiet. *"This is only the beginning."*
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