Later that night, as the ship was silent and the stars stretched out endlessly before her, Lena found herself standing before the core again. Its presence in the room felt suffocating, the hum more insistent than before. It was as though it was calling to her, urging her to come closer, to embrace it fully.Lena placed her hand on the smooth surface of the core's containment unit, her fingers tingling with the raw power radiating from within. The sensation was intoxicating, like the deepest kind of temptation. She could feel the pulse of the galaxy itself vibrating in the core's energy—a force that was far older than anything the galaxy had ever known.And yet, despite the pull, there was a lingering doubt. Was she truly in control of this power? Or was the core bending her to its will?Her reflection in the surface of the core stared back at her, the face of a woman she barely recognized. Her eyes—once filled with determination and hope—now reflected a wariness, a fear of what might happen if she gave in. What happens if I lose myself?She turned away from the core, gripping the edges of the table in front of her. She was a leader. She had to be. But the power… it was beginning to overwhelm her, and she could feel the consequences of her reliance on it settling into her bones.It was then that she heard a voice—soft, concerned. Elias stood in the doorway, his gaze steady but filled with something deeper: understanding."You don't have to carry this alone," Elias said, his voice a grounding force. "Whatever happens, I'm with you. We're all with you."For a moment, Lena simply stood there, her mind swirling with doubts. But when she turned to face him, she found the strength to take a step forward, to lean into the support he offered. They were a team. She had to remember that."You'll help me?" Lena asked softly, her voice almost a whisper. "Even if it means fighting the core itself?"Elias nodded, his expression unwavering. "Yes. We'll fight, but we'll do it together."