The rear ramp of the ship slowly opened, revealing a futuristic yet oppressively sterile interior. Kirana, Zephyr, and Aelina followed Vega and Lyra into the vessel. The echo of their footsteps rang down the metal corridor, lit by a faint blue glow emanating from panels embedded in the walls.
As they reached the central chamber, their eyes were immediately drawn to a large device in the middle of the room. It looked like a metal capsule with an open top, surrounded by clusters of silver cables branching out in all directions, some ending in large, needle-like tips. Hovering above it, a holographic screen blinked with characters in the Edenan language.
"This..." Zephyr murmured, studying the device. "What is it, exactly?"
Vega stopped in front of the machine, his expression grave. "This is the Cerebral Nexus Conduit, or CNC. It was originally developed by the Edenans for advanced psychological therapy. But I've modified it."
"Modified it?" Kirana asked, skeptical.
Vega nodded. "I added functionality to access the deepest layers of someone's mind. In other words, this device allows us to dive into the neural network connected to Aelina's brain. From there, we can search for vulnerabilities and sever the Edenan link."
He gestured to one of the CNC capsules. "Aelina, I know this sounds frightening, but you need to trust me. It's the only way we can break their control over you."
Aelina looked to Kirana and Zephyr, searching their faces. Kirana stepped forward and gently held her shoulder. "You can do this, sweetheart. We're right here with you."
Taking a deep breath, Aelina seated herself in the capsule. Vega took his place beside her, adjusting several controls on the side panel.
He pulled one of the silver cables, its end gleaming with a large needle-like connector, and approached Aelina. "I need to connect this to the neural port on your back. Don't worry, you won't feel pain."
Aelina gave a slow nod, though tension was etched across her face. Vega's fingers traced along her spine, searching until he found a small port, clearly engineered by Edenan biotechnology.
"Here it is," Vega whispered. With care, he plugged in the cable. A soft click echoed as it locked into place, and a tiny blue light illuminated along its length.
He then connected another cable to the compact computer unit strapped to his forearm. "I'll be joining her inside. I'll guide her through the process and locate the core database embedded in her neural matrix."
Turning to Lyra, he pointed at a control panel beside the capsule. "Lyra, you'll stay here and monitor us. Watch the vitals. If anything unusual happens, like a spike in heart rate or a neural surge, hit the red button. It'll trigger an emergency extraction."
Lyra nodded firmly, though her face betrayed concern. "Understood. But Vega… what if something happens to you or Aelina inside?"
Vega exhaled slowly. "If something goes wrong, I might not come back. But protecting Aelina is my priority. No matter what, get her out."
Kirana stepped closer, her gaze sharp. "Bring her back safe, Vega. I'm trusting you with my daughter."
Vega gave a solemn nod. "I'll do everything I can."
He tapped a few commands into the CNC interface. The room dimmed as the lights shifted to a pulsing blue rhythm, and a soft humming filled the air.
Aelina, now lying back in the capsule, closed her eyes and drew in a steady breath. "What happens now, Vega?" she asked softly.
"We're entering your mind," Vega replied, locking eyes with her. "You might see strange or frightening things, but I'll be with you. Just trust me and follow my lead."
She nodded faintly. "Okay."
Vega connected the final cable to his own headgear, then pressed a button on his forearm device. "Lyra, countdown. Three… two… one…"
In an instant, both Vega's and Aelina's eyes shut. Their bodies relaxed, but the CNC monitors spiked with neural activity.
Aelina's eyes opened, but the ship was gone. She stood in a vast, empty plain under a deep blue sky that rippled like water. In the distance, vague shadows drifted across the horizon, too far to distinguish.
"Where am I?" she murmured. Her voice echoed unnaturally in the void.
Suddenly, Vega's voice came from behind. "You're inside your own mind, Aelina. This is your subconscious."
She turned to see him standing there, clad as usual but radiating a strange, resolute presence.
"What do we do now?" she asked.
Vega looked toward the drifting shadows. "Somewhere in this place is the database that connects your mind to the Edenan network. We need to find it, and cut the link before they take full control."
Aelina nodded, swallowing the fear rising inside her. "I'm ready."
Vega offered a faint smile. "You're stronger than you know, Aelina. And I'm here to help. Let's begin."
The path stretched out before them like the intricate circuitry of an ancient machine, gleaming lines of silver and cobalt running beneath their feet, pulsing faintly with life. Vega and Aelina walked side by side, the hum of energy resonating around them like a distant memory.
"This place... it feels alive," Aelina murmured, her voice barely a whisper as her eyes scanned the surreal landscape.
"It is," Vega replied, his tone calm but focused. "This is the inner realm of your subconscious, a space your mind creates to contain memories, knowledge, and hidden truths. We follow the current, and it will guide us to the core."
As they moved deeper into the shimmering pathway, a projection appeared before them. It flickered to life like a holographic veil, revealing a sterile, cold laboratory bathed in white light. Inside, scientists in robes bearing the insignia of the Edena worked meticulously around a transparent pod.
Inside the pod, a younger Aelina, barely more than a child, floated in stasis.
Aelina stopped in her tracks, eyes wide. "What... what is this?"
Vega paused beside her. "It is a shadow of a memory. Not one you've lived consciously, but it is stored deep within you. This is the place where you were created."
Aelina stared at the projection in silence. The figures moved soundlessly, efficiently, as if the memory itself wanted to remain distant.
They continued walking, and more projections lined the path, fragments of Aelina's memories. A glimpse of her first time seeing the stars, a flash of laughter shared with Kirana, the sharp pang of loss when Zephyr disappeared for the first time.
Then, a new vision emerged, different from the rest.
This one was steeped in red. The sky above the projection burned crimson, casting a blood-colored glow across a battlefield filled with ruined cities and fallen machines. Soldiers, some human, others unmistakably Edena, fought in chaos.
Aelina froze. "I've... dreamed of this. Many times. But I never understood what it meant."
Vega's expression grew grim. "That's because this isn't your memory."
She turned to him. "Then whose is it?"
Vega stepped closer to the red-tinted vision, eyes narrowing. "This happened before you existed. Before your birth. A war. Hidden. Suppressed."
Without hesitation, he stepped through the projection. The fabric of the memory rippled like disturbed water. Aelina followed him, her breath catching in her throat.
Behind the projection, a swirling portal shimmered into view, pulsing with a dull crimson light.
Vega turned to face her. "What lies beyond this portal... may be difficult to face. You must prepare yourself, Aelina."
She nodded slowly, though her face was pale. "I'm ready."
Together, they stepped into the portal.
On the other side, the world was shrouded in eerie red light. A beam of crimson energy pierced the sky like a sword made of fire. Beneath it hovered a large black cube, its surface engraved with intricate, geometric symbols, unmistakably Edena in origin.
Vega's eyes hardened. "We've found it. The core of the connection."
Aelina stared at the cube, her heart pounding. "I'm ready."
Vega looked at her once more. "Then let's end this."
They walked forward, the ground pulsing with energy as the cube awaited their approach.