Chapter 8: Echoes of the War

Kera's eyes fluttered open to the faint hum of the Starborn's engines. The soft light of the shard glowed beside her, its pulse steady and calming. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her temples, forcing her to groan.

"Take it easy," Talen's voice said from nearby. He was perched on a crate, arms crossed, his expression a mix of irritation and concern. "You've been out for hours."

"What happened?" Kera asked, her voice hoarse.

"You touched the shard, and then you just… collapsed," Talen said, leaning forward. "You were mumbling something about wars and… Sovereigns. Care to explain what's going on in that head of yours?"

Kera closed her eyes, fragments of the vision flashing through her mind. She could still see the destruction—worlds torn apart, armies consumed by shadow. "It wasn't just a vision," she said finally. "It was like I was there, living it. The Enclave's war against the Sovereign… it was more horrific than I could have imagined."

The Guardian stepped into view, its glowing eyes focused on Kera. "The shard has begun unlocking the Catalyst's potential. The memories of the Enclave are now part of you, a necessary burden to prepare you for what lies ahead."

"A necessary burden?" Talen snapped, standing. "She's barely holding it together, and you're acting like this is some kind of rite of passage."

"It is," the Guardian said evenly. "The Sovereign's forces will only grow stronger. To face them, the Catalyst must understand the stakes and the cost of failure."

Kera rubbed her temples, her mind still reeling. "I… I saw things. Worlds destroyed, people enslaved, twisted into heralds. If the Sovereign gets free…" She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

Kera clenched her fist, her knuckles whitening as she stared at the shard. "I can't let that happen," she said, her voice low but resolute.

The shard's pulse grew brighter as Kera approached the map display in the cockpit. The holographic projection lit up, highlighting new points of interest that had been unlocked by the shard's synchronization with the pathfinder.

"There," Kera said, pointing to a glowing marker near the edge of the star chart. "That's our next location."

Talen frowned, studying the display. "It's deep in uncharted space. No stations, no trade routes. Just empty void."

"Not empty," the Guardian corrected. "The Enclave's strongholds were hidden in the most remote regions to avoid detection. If another shard is there, it will be heavily fortified."

"And probably crawling with heralds," Talen added with a grimace.

Kera took a deep breath. "We'll need to stock up before we go. If this place is as remote as it looks, we'll need enough supplies to last the trip and then some."

Talen's fingers danced over the console, scanning nearby systems. "There's a trade outpost two jumps from here. It's small, but they'll have the basics."

The Guardian's glowing eyes turned toward Kera. "Every delay increases the Sovereign's influence. The heralds will not wait."

"Neither will we," Kera said, her voice steady. "But if we're not prepared, we'll be dead before we even get there. A quick stop for supplies won't change that."

The Guardian gave a small nod, stepping back as Talen plotted their course.

The trade outpost was little more than a cluster of rusted docking bays and prefabricated buildings, floating in the shadow of a gas giant. The Starborn docked without incident, and the crew disembarked into the chaotic bustle of traders, mechanics, and scavengers.

"Stay sharp," Talen said, his eyes scanning the crowd. "Places like this attract trouble."

"We're just here for supplies," Kera said, adjusting her jacket to conceal the shard. The Guardian had been insistent: "Keep it on you at all times." She ensured the shard was hidden, its faint glow concealed beneath her clothes. "In and out."

Kera ventured into the market while Talen headed toward the nearby mechanics' stalls. She scanned the bustling vendors for rations and essentials, her mind heavy with the Guardian's warning to keep the shard close. It pulsed faintly against her side, hidden beneath her jacket. She found herself haggling with a grizzled merchant over the price of rations, her tone firm despite the unease gnawing at her. The weight of the shard felt ever-present, its faint glow a quiet reminder of its power—and the danger it posed.

Talen lingered at a rack of tools, his sharp gaze scanning the crowd. His demeanor was as sarcastic as ever, but there was a tension in the way his hand hovered near his blaster. "You'd think people would have figured out how to fix a ship without ripping you off," he muttered, drawing an amused glance from Kera before turning his attention back to his task.

Kera handed over a stack of credits to the merchant, the deal finally struck. Just as she turned to leave, a voice rang out behind her, sharp and cutting through the bustle of the market. "Catalyst."

She froze, her hand instinctively moving to the shard. Turning slowly, she saw a figure cloaked in dark armor. Unlike the chaotic surroundings, their presence was unnervingly composed. The face was obscured by a helmet etched with faintly glowing red symbols, giving them an otherworldly look

"You have something that doesn't belong to you," the figure said, their voice distorted by a mechanical filter.

Kera's pulse quickened. "I don't know what you're talking about," she replied, her tone steady but her body tense.

The figure stepped closer, their movements measured and deliberate. A sleek, curved blade at their side crackled with faint energy, hinting at the danger they posed. "The shard. Hand it over, and I might let you live."

"Not happening," Talen's voice cut in, appearing suddenly from her left. His blaster was drawn, his movements precise despite the earlier split. "Guess we're attracting all the fun lately, huh?" His smirk was satirical, but his body remained tense, ready for action. "You might want to rethink how you're starting this negotiation."

The figure tilted their head, the gesture unnervingly calm. "Brave. But foolish."

Tension in the market spiked. Traders and scavengers paused their movements, eyeing the confrontation warily but not moving right away clearly used to such situations. The figure's blade ignited with dark energy, its crackling edge drawing gasps and murmurs from the crowd. Talen fired a volley of blaster bolts, but they moved with unnatural speed, deflecting the shots with precision that sent sparks flying and causing the onlookers to instinctively back away, creating a tense, widening circle around the fight.

The Guardian, stationed at the Starborn to guard against intruders, received an alert from the Pathmaker. Kera had signaled for backup. Without hesitation, the Guardian moved swiftly through the market, its imposing figure drawing stares and parting the crowd as it approached the fray. Its energy blade ignited with a sharp hiss, clashing with the figure's dark weapon just as they lunged for Kera. Her heart raced as she tried to assess what to do now.

"Talen!" she shouted over the sound of the swords clashing "We need to get out of here!"

"Working on it!" he yelled back, firing at another shadowy figure that emerged from the periphery. This one was grotesque, its twisted, barely humanoid form lurching forward with unnatural movements. making it obviouse what it is a herald. and its elongated limbs lashed out, scattering debris and toppling market goods as it advanced.

Kera clutched the shard, its light flaring in response to the danger.,"Guardian! Fall back to the ship! We're leaving!"

The Guardian's strikes were relentless, matching the knight's speed with mechanical precision. Sparks flew as their weapons collided, forcing the knight to retreat momentarily. The Guardian turned to Kera and Talen, its voice sharp and commanding. "Retreat to the Starborn. Now!" Talen provided cover fire, driving back the herald with rapid blaster shots as the trio moved quickly toward the Starborn.

As they moved the herald quickly retreated along with the knight like figure

The ship's ramp closed behind them just as another surge of activity rippled through the market. Kera collapsed into the co-pilot's seat, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breathing. The shard's light dimmed, but its presence felt heavier than ever.

"That… was too close," Talen said, slumping into his chair. "And for what? A handful of rations and a tool kit?"

The Guardian stood silently by the viewport, its glowing eyes fixed on the stars. "The Sovereign's reach is growing. This peace will not be the last."

Kera nodded, her resolve hardening. "Then we'd better make sure we're ready for the next one."