The deeper we moved into Sector Zero, the quieter the place became.
The density of activity behind us faded, patrol routes thinning until the stars once again felt distant and indifferent. Sector Zero was a hub, not a cage, and once you knew where to look, it offered exits as easily as it offered scrutiny.
I stood near the central display while Aurora overlaid the star map the demons had given us. It wasn't decorative or symbolic. It was practical, stripped of sentiment, showing only what mattered. Major powers. Stable routes. Zones that were best avoided unless you were prepared to deal with the consequences.
"There," Aurora said, highlighting a region far from the primary corridors. "That one's been marked as inactive for a long time."
The image zoomed in.
A dead star.
