Chapter 22: The Shadow of the Council

The air in Nova Prime felt different now. Even the streets seemed colder, as if they were made of something harder than stone—something that could crush you if you weren't careful. Luna had seen the shadows of the city before, but now, walking through them, she felt them closing in on her.

The Council had their eyes on her, and she wasn't sure how long she could avoid their grip. Each step felt like it carried the weight of the shattered future she'd created—the one she was desperately trying to fix.

But she knew she had to press on.

Ethan led her through the back alleys, his eyes constantly scanning for any sign of surveillance, any sign that they were being watched. The place he was taking her was some kind of underground network—a safe house of sorts, though she wasn't sure how safe it would be once the Council's forces caught wind of her presence.

"What's the plan once we reach the archives?" Luna asked, her voice low as she kept pace with Ethan.

"We find the truth," he answered, his tone firm. "The Council's archives hold everything about the Starborn—about you. There are records of the war, of what happened, of your death... It might give us the answers we need."

"And if they're watching those records, too?" Luna asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Then we make sure they don't see us coming."

Luna didn't say anything, but she could feel the weight of his words. She wasn't afraid of the Council. But she knew they wouldn't let her uncover the truth without resistance. They never did.

Into the Shadows

They reached a narrow door at the edge of a darkened alley. Ethan slid a small device into a hidden panel beside the door, and after a few tense seconds, it clicked open.

Inside was dimly lit, a series of rusty pipes running along the walls. But Luna didn't hesitate. She followed Ethan down the cramped corridor, her mind racing with possibilities—and dangers.

They reached a large metal door at the far end of the hallway. Ethan didn't speak, just motioned for Luna to stay close. With one final glance to make sure no one was watching, he opened the door.

Inside was a control room of sorts. Old monitors flickered with static, some showing holographic maps of Nova Prime. Others displayed unreadable lines of code. It was a mess of technology, hidden in plain sight.

"Welcome to the Rebel Safehouse," Ethan said with a slight grin.

Luna couldn't help but give a half-smile back, though she was far from comfortable. There were too many things about this place that didn't feel right.

But the archive terminal at the center of the room was what drew her in. It was the only thing that seemed to have any real order to it.

Ethan quickly moved toward it, fingers dancing over the console, the screen lighting up. "This is the Council's encrypted archive. I can get in, but it'll take a minute. Stay alert."

Luna nodded. "We don't have much time."

A few seconds later, the terminal flickered, a hum of power running through the walls as the system unlocked. Ethan's face darkened.

"This isn't just a simple archive," he muttered, eyes scanning the screen. "They've adapted it. Integrated it with… something else."

Luna felt a knot form in her stomach. "What do you mean?"

Ethan stepped back from the console. "I mean there's something else here. A security protocol. This isn't just data—this is a trap."

Before Luna could react, the lights flickered, and the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. A muffled voice called out.

"Intruders detected."

Luna's heart skipped. "Ethan—"

A heavy metal door slammed shut, cutting off their exit. The system hummed louder, and a red light bathed the room. They were trapped.

Ethan turned to Luna, his face grim. "They know we're here. The Council has triggered a fail-safe."

Luna's pulse quickened. They were no longer just at risk of being caught. They were being hunted.

The Hunt Begins

From behind the door, a deep mechanical voice echoed in the room. "Evacuation protocol initiated. All intruders will be neutralized."

Luna's mind raced. They needed to leave. Now. She turned toward the console, quickly scanning for a way to disable the system.

Ethan had already moved. "We have to get to the escape tunnel before they lock us in here for good." He glanced back at the door, listening intently. The footsteps were growing closer. They weren't alone anymore.

"Luna, come on!"

Luna followed him as he sprinted down a narrow corridor that led to a hidden escape hatch. But they weren't fast enough. As they reached the door, a figure stepped into view.

It was a machine—one of the Council's enforcers. Its body was made of sleek, dark metal, with eyes glowing a haunting red.

It blocked their way, unwavering, its form like a living wall of steel. The air around them hummed with the mechanical whir of its limbs as it stepped forward.

"Intruders detected." The machine's voice was cold, artificial. "You are not authorized to access the archives. Termination protocol active."

Luna's heart pounded. This was it—the moment she had feared. She had no way of knowing how many of these machines the Council had at its disposal. But one thing was certain: she couldn't just run.

"Get down!" Ethan shouted, pulling her toward the side.

But the machine moved too fast. Before they could react, it launched forward, slamming into them with force that knocked them both back into the wall.

Luna hit the floor with a thud, and everything blurred for a moment.

Ethan grunted as he shoved the machine away, trying to break free, but the machine was relentless. It wanted them—wanted them eliminated before they could uncover the secrets of the Council.

Luna's mind raced. There had to be something—anything—to stop this.

She felt a surge of anger. She had no power over the stars here. The energy she had once controlled was gone. But there was something else.

She could fight back.

With a scream of frustration, Luna pushed the machine away, using every ounce of her strength to send a shockwave of pure willpower into its systems. It staggered back, sparks flying as its metallic frame screeched.

"Go, Luna!" Ethan shouted, his voice hoarse. "Now!"

Luna didn't need to be told twice. She bolted toward the tunnel entrance, her legs screaming in protest as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed behind her.

They didn't have much time. If the Council knew they were after the archives, they would send everything they had.