The Seraphine's Echo glided through the void, the stormbound fragment secured safely in its containment field. Elyra leaned over the console, tracing the faint energy signature Kael had embedded into the fragment. It pulsed weakly, pointing them toward a cluster of derelict satellites and broken communication arrays.
"The readings are faint, but consistent," Elyra muttered. "Whatever the fragment is reacting to—it's here, somewhere."
The Marauder's shadow rippled along the hull. "That cluster isn't random. It's a forgotten station, abandoned during the Collapse Wars. If the Void has taken refuge anywhere, it would be here—hidden in what the galaxy has already forgotten."
Elyra's eyes narrowed. "Then we check it out. Carefully."
The station emerged from the darkness—a massive skeletal structure orbiting a dead planet. Its surface was scarred with energy burns and collision damage, corridors dark and silent. But Elyra could feel it—the pull of the Void, subtle and insidious, radiating through the fragment.
"Docking protocols engaged," she said, guiding the ship carefully. "This place hasn't seen life in centuries."
The Marauder's voice was low, warning. "Don't underestimate it. The Void can manipulate time, memory, and perception. One wrong step and you might never leave."
Elyra nodded. "I know."
The airlock hissed open, revealing a corridor choked with debris. Lights flickered sporadically, and strange shadows darted along the walls. Elyra activated her suit's illumination, the beam cutting through the darkness.
"Sensors are picking up movement," she murmured. "But nothing's visible. It's… phasing."
The Marauder extended his shadow tendrils, sweeping the corridor. "The Void likes to hide in perception. Expect it to manifest anything you fear—or desire. Focus on intent, not illusions."
They moved carefully through the station, following the fragment's energy readings. Doors opened and closed seemingly on their own, corridors twisting in impossible angles, and for a moment, Elyra could swear she saw faint glimpses of Kael, smiling, just out of reach.
"Stay sharp," the Marauder whispered. "It will try to distract you. Every reflection, every echo of memory—ignore it. Only the fragment matters."
Finally, they reached the control hub—a circular chamber with the central console fused to the floor. The fragment's pulsing light brightened, reacting to a faint distortion emanating from the console.
Suddenly, the walls shifted. The shadows of long-dead crew members flickered to life, whispering unintelligible words. The Marauder raised his protective barrier, but Elyra realized the danger wasn't physical—it was psychological.
She stepped forward, focusing her mind. "I am here to contain, not to destroy. I am here to protect, not to fear."
The whispers faltered, the shadows dissipating. The fragment's light flared, revealing a faint glyph embedded in the console—a warning and a guide.
The Marauder's voice echoed in her mind. "This station holds more than just the fragment's next anchor. It holds a key to the Void's strategy."
Elyra's eyes narrowed, determination hardening. "Then we take it—and we don't leave until we understand every piece."
Outside, the stars of the dead planet blinked silently, oblivious to the awakening storm within the abandoned station.
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