Ethan held his breath as Dr. Senna moved past his hiding spot, her head tilted as she analyzed something on a handheld scanner.
The device pulsed with soft blue light, and with each pulse, Senna's expression grew more determined. She was definitely tracking him.
"I know you're here, Ethan." Her voice was softer than before, lacking the clinical detachment she'd maintained in the medical bay.
"Your biosignature is unique. There's nowhere on this station you can hide from my equipment." So much for hoping she was on his side.
Ethan's system immediately offered tactical options, highlighting three potential escape routes from his alcove. But something made him hesitate. Senna had protected him from Zira and the others. She'd argued for saving Earth. Maybe…
"I'm not trying to capture you," Senna continued, stopping directly in front of his hiding spot without turning around. "I'm trying to keep you alive. There's a difference."
Ethan stepped out of the shadows. "Hard to tell the difference when everyone wants to put me in a cage."
Senna finally turned to face him, and he was struck by the genuine concern in her amber eyes. "What's happening in the main concourse right now? That's what happens when powerful factions see something they want.
Empress Kara has brought a fleet. Commander Seris has called for Dominion reinforcements. Within the hour, this station will be the site of a major military engagement."
"All because I exist." Ethan murmured.
"No. It's all because you represent hope for dying species." Senna closed the distance between them, and Ethan noticed she'd removed the medical scanner from her belt.
"Do you understand what 'universal compatibility' means? Most species in this galaxy can only reproduce within their own kind or through expensive, dangerous genetic engineering.
But humans? Your DNA is like a master key. And now you're the only male left."
"So what, I'm supposed to let myself become some kind of intergalactic breeding stock? Just accept that's my life now?"
"No." Senna's voice was firm. "I think you should run. Keep running until you're strong enough that no one can force you into anything."
**[SYSTEM ALERT: ENTITY ANALYSIS COMPLETE]**
**[DR. SENNA VEX - THREAT LEVEL: LOW]**
**[EMOTIONAL STATE: GENUINE CONCERN]**
**[RECOMMENDATION: POTENTIAL ALLY]**
Ethan wanted to trust the system's assessment, but years of military training had taught him paranoia had survival value. "Why would you help me? What do you get out of it?"
Before Senna could answer, the corridor behind her erupted with light and sound. Four figures materialized from nowhere—sophisticated teleportation tech that left ozone-scented air in its wake. They were all female, heavily armed, and all bearing the wolf-like features Ethan had noticed on Captain Zira.
But these weren't random soldiers. The one in front wore ceremonial armor that practically radiated authority, her silver fur marked with intricate war paint that seemed to move across her skin.
"Step away from the human, Doctor." The wolf warrior's voice carried the unmistakable accent of command.
"By order of Princess Lyra Fenris, he is to be escorted to our delegation for proper courtship proceedings."
"Courtship proceedings?" Ethan stared. "You can't be serious."
The princess—because apparently that's what she was—focused on him with eyes that glowed faint gold. "Among my people, strength determines worthiness. You will witness a Trial of Dominance. The victor earns the right to court you according to the old traditions."
"I don't want to be courted according to any traditions!"
"Your wants…" Princess Lyra said, her tone making clear what she thought of that concept, "..are secondary to duty. You carry the last genetic legacy of your species. That makes you too valuable to waste on sentiment."
Senna positioned herself between Ethan and the warriors, her medical scanner somehow transforming into something that hummed with energy. "The Fenris Pack has no jurisdiction here. Under Coalition medical law…"
"The Coalition is weak and dying," Lyra interrupted. "Just like every species that clings to their laws and protocols. My pack knows strength. We'll protect the human, breed strong cubs, and secure both our futures." She gestured to her warriors. "Take him."
**[QUEST UPDATE: IMMEDIATE THREAT ESCALATED]**
**[COMBAT INEVITABLE]**
**[RECOMMENDATION: ABSORB COMBAT ENERGY TO ACCELERATE CULTIVATION]**
Absorb combat energy? What the hell did that mean?
The wolf warriors moved with coordinated steps, two flanking wide while one went high and another stayed back to cover. Military tactics that Ethan recognized even across species barriers.
Senna's weapon discharged with a sound like tearing metal. One of the flanking warriors took the blast square in the chest and went flying backward into the corridor wall. But the others adjusted instantly, their formation tightening.
"Run!" Senna shouted at Ethan. "I'll hold them…"
Princess Lyra moved faster than Ethan's eyes could track. One moment she was ten feet away, the next she had Senna by the throat, lifting the doctor off her feet with casual strength.
"Admirable loyalty," Lyra said, examining Senna like an interesting specimen. "But misplaced. The human needs protection from those who would exploit him, not enablers who encourage his fantasies of independence."
Ethan's system went haywire with warnings and information, but one message was brighter than the others:
**[OPPORTUNITY DETECTED]**
**[EMOTIONAL RESONANCE HIGH]**
**[COMBAT ENERGY AVAILABLE FOR ABSORPTION]**
**[INITIATE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT? Y/N]**
He didn't fully understand what the system was asking, but Senna was choking, the wolf warriors were closing in, and in about five seconds he'd be dragged off to participate in some alien courtship ritual he definitely hadn't signed up for.
Ethan chose Yes.
The world exploded into sensation. Energy—invisible, intangible, but undeniably real flooded into him from the ongoing combat. It felt like standing too close to a lightning strike, electricity arcing through every nerve.
The warrior Senna had shot was generating pain and rage. Lyra radiated predatory satisfaction. Even Senna's desperation fed into the maelstrom.
And Ethan's body drank it all in like a man dying of thirst.
**[FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT: 1%... 15%... 34%...]**
His muscles spasmed and his vision went white. Somewhere distant, he heard Lyra drop Senna and shout something urgent to her warriors.
**[FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT: 67%... 89%... 100%]**
**[CONGRATULATIONS: FOUNDATION REALM ACHIEVED]**
**[NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED]**
**[COMBAT CAPACITY: INCREASED]**
**[PHYSICAL ENHANCEMENT: ACTIVE]**
Ethan's awareness snapped back to the present. He felt stronger and faster. The energy still crackled through his system, looking for an outlet.
Princess Lyra was staring at him with an expression caught between shock and hunger. "Impossible. You just broke through to Foundation Realm in seconds? No one achieves that without years of cultivation."
"I'm full of surprises." Ethan's voice came out steadier than he felt. His body hummed with power he didn't know how to use.
The injured warrior had recovered and was advancing again with the others. Lyra raised a hand to stop them, her tactical mind clearly reassessing the situation.
"You're more valuable than I thought," she said slowly. "A natural cultivator with universal bloodline compatibility? Every matriarch in the galaxy will want you now. Your life just became exponentially more complicated, H.U.M.A.N."
Behind Lyra, Dr. Senna had recovered enough to raise her weapon again, but she was clearly outmatched. The corridor felt too small and exposed. Ethan's system highlighted an emergency airlock twenty feet away which was risky, potentially fatal, but it would definitely get him away from the immediate threat.
"Stand down, Princess," a new voice echoed through the corridor. "Or the next shot won't be a warning."
Commander Seris materialized from thin air, her silver eyes blazing with barely contained power. Behind her, a dozen Celestial warriors emerged from teleportation fields, their weapons trained on the Fenris Pack.
"This human is under Dominion protection," Seris continued. "Leave now, or face the consequences."
Lyra's expression hardened. "The Dominion doesn't scare me, Seris. Your kind are too civilized to start a real war over one male."
"Try me."
Ethan found himself at the center of a potential bloodbath between two military powers, with Empress Kara's forces probably not far behind.
His system timer showed 23:12:45 remaining.
This was going to be a very long twenty-three hours.
Then the lights went out, emergency systems failed, and something that definitely wasn't supposed to be on the station began to scream in the darkness.