Aftershock

The days following the battle were a blur. The victory over the Rhytil flagship had been hard-earned, and while the Alliance celebrated, the cost of that victory weighed heavily on Lena. Her connection with the core had deepened, its power still pulsing within her, and every moment spent in its presence felt like a constant battle to retain control. It wasn't just her mind that was suffering; her body had begun to show the signs of the strain. Tremors that hadn't been there before. Headaches that pounded like a drumbeat. Exhaustion that no rest seemed to alleviate.

Lena sat at the command table, staring at the holo-display of the galaxy, her mind distant. Ships and fleets were marked, alliances were being reformed, and yet she felt herself slipping further from the task at hand. She was no longer the same leader she had once been. She was tethered to a force far more dangerous than anything the Rhytil could ever bring.

"Commander," Kellan's voice broke through her thoughts, though his tone was gentle, as if sensing her fatigue. He stood at the edge of the table, his hand resting on the edge of the map. "We've received a report. The Rhytil are regrouping. They're not finished."

Lena looked up slowly, the words hitting her like a jolt. "I figured as much. They're wounded, but not beaten."

Kellan nodded. "They've retreated into the Helios Nebula. We don't know their next move, but we can expect them to retaliate. Hard."

Lena's eyes narrowed. The Helios Nebula was treacherous—full of electromagnetic interference, dangerous for both travel and communication. It would be nearly impossible to track the Rhytil fleet there. "We need to act fast then. But we can't go in blind."

"We have our spy network," Tavon's voice came from the doorway. He entered the command center, his expression grim. "I can organize a team to infiltrate. But this time, we won't have the element of surprise. The Rhytil will be expecting us."

Lena's heart skipped a beat as she locked eyes with Tavon. He had been there from the beginning, from the very first battles, and his commitment had never wavered. There was something comforting about his presence, but she couldn't let herself be distracted by that. "Prepare the team. We move in 48 hours."

Tavon gave her a nod before turning to leave. But he paused at the door, glancing back over his shoulder. "Lena... Are you sure you're okay?"

Lena's hand clenched into a fist on the table. She didn't answer at first. She couldn't bring herself to admit that the very thing that had made them victorious—the core—was slowly destroying her from the inside. But she couldn't let that stop her. She had a mission to complete, and she couldn't afford to show weakness. "I'll be fine. We have work to do."

Tavon didn't press further, but the concern on his face was undeniable. Lena hated that he worried about her. Hated that it showed in his eyes every time they spoke.

As soon as Tavon left, Kellan turned to Lena with a slight frown. "Lena, if you need to rest, we can push back the mission. Your health—"

"We don't have time for that," she snapped before taking a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "We can't afford to wait any longer. The Rhytil will regroup, and we'll lose the upper hand."

Kellan's eyes softened, but he didn't argue. "I just want to make sure you're not pushing yourself too hard. The Alliance needs you. We all need you."

Lena didn't respond, her gaze drifting back to the map. She could feel the strain of the core's influence even now, the dull hum in her chest reminding her that her time was running out. She didn't know how much longer she could keep this up.