The glowing energy of the Nexus began to fade, leaving the chamber shrouded in a calm, golden light. Liora stepped away from the pedestal, her heart pounding with the weight of the temple's gift. The Sigil on her hand continued to pulse faintly, a reminder of the power she now carried.
"We need to move," Tharn said, his voice sharp as he scanned the room. "The moment the Empire realizes what's happened, they'll throw everything they've got at us."
Liora nodded, turning to her team. "The Nexus is awake, but this isn't over. If we're caught here, everything we've done will be for nothing."
Kade holstered his blaster, glancing nervously at the crystalline walls. "I'm all for a dramatic exit, but do we have a plan? Because I don't think the Empire is going to roll out a red carpet for us."
As they retraced their steps through the labyrinthine corridors of the station, the tension was palpable. The faint hum of the Nexus's energy still resonated in the walls, but it was overshadowed by the distant sound of alarms blaring through the station.
"They know something's wrong," Tharn said, his tone grim. "It's only a matter of time before they lock down the exits."
"We'll make it," Liora said, her voice steady despite the growing sense of urgency. "The Nexus didn't guide us here just to let us fail."
The group rounded a corner, only to come face-to-face with a squad of stormtroopers blocking the corridor.
"Hold it right there!" one of the troopers barked, raising his blaster.
Before the trooper could fire, Tharn moved with practiced precision, taking down two of them with well-placed shots. Kade followed suit, unleashing a volley of blaster fire that sent the rest scattering for cover.
"We're exposed here!" Kade shouted over the din of battle.
"Keep moving!" Tharn barked, covering their retreat as Liora led them toward the docking bay.
The corridors became a blur of flashing lights and echoing footsteps as the team fought their way through the station. The closer they got to their ship, the stronger Liora's connection to the Nexus became, its energy urging her forward.
When they finally reached the docking bay, the scene was chaos. Imperial officers shouted orders as troops scrambled to reinforce the area, their weapons trained on the freighter waiting on the landing pad.
"They're trying to cut us off," Tharn said, his voice tight.
"Not if I can help it," Liora replied.
She raised her hand, the Sigil glowing brighter as she focused on the Nexus's power. The air around her shimmered with golden light, and a wave of energy surged forward, disorienting the troopers and knocking them off balance.
Kade stared in awe. "Okay, that's new."
"Don't just stand there!" Tharn snapped. "Get to the ship!"
The team sprinted across the landing pad, blaster fire raining down around them as they boarded the freighter. Kade vaulted into the pilot's seat, his hands flying over the controls.
"Engines are hot!" he called out. "But we've got a destroyer locking onto us. This is going to be close!"
Tharn manned the turret, his sharp eyes scanning for threats. "Just get us off the ground. I'll handle the rest."
As the freighter lifted off, Liora stood by the viewport, her hand resting on the Sigil. She could feel the shadows closing in, the Empire's presence pressing against the light of the Nexus.
"They won't stop," she said softly.
Kade glanced back at her. "Let's make sure they don't catch us, then."
The freighter roared into the void, weaving through a barrage of laser fire as it sped toward the asteroid field. The Imperial destroyer loomed behind them, its weapons lighting up the darkness.
"Brace yourselves!" Kade shouted, pushing the engines to their limit.
The ship jolted as a near miss rocked the hull, but Liora remained focused, her connection to the Nexus steadying her. She reached out with the Sigil, channeling its energy into the ship's systems. The freighter responded, its movements becoming sharper and more precise.
Tharn took out a pursuing fighter with a well-placed shot, clearing their path to the asteroid field. "Almost there!" he called out.
As the freighter plunged into the dense cluster of rocks, the destroyer hesitated, its size making it too unwieldy to follow. The remaining fighters pursued, but Kade's piloting and Tharn's turret fire made quick work of them.
The freighter emerged on the other side, the stars stretching endlessly before them. The tension in the cabin began to ease as the alarms went silent.
"We made it," Kade said, his voice filled with relief.
"For now," Tharn replied, his tone as serious as ever.
Liora turned away from the viewport, her gaze steady. "This was just the beginning. The Empire knows what we're after now. They won't stop until they destroy us—or until we finish what we started."