Forbidden Knowledge

Location: Stealth Destroyer – Obsidian Lance

The command chamber aboard the Obsidian Lance was dimly lit, the soft blue glow of holo-displays casting flickering shadows against the reinforced alloy walls. The hum of the ship's stealth systems filled the air like a distant pulse, ever-present, unseen.

Nathan Vale stood across from Dr. Elias Varin, the scientist still clad in tattered research fatigues. His face was gaunt, a mixture of exhaustion and something deeper—something almost haunted.

Aegis materialized as a flickering projection beside Vale. "Dr. Varin, you now have an opportunity to disclose what you were working on. The information you possess may determine the future of this war."

Varin exhaled, rubbing his temples. "You don't understand… It wasn't just research. It was weaponization of the human mind."

Vale narrowed his eyes. "Explain."

Varin gestured, and the holo-table activated. Blueprints, DNA sequencing data, and neural-psionic mapping schematics spiraled into view. Psionic Augmentation Research – Project Eclipse.

"The Kran don't just fear human psionics," Varin said. "They covet it. They've spent years trying to integrate their own version of psionic warfare, but their species lacks the neural structure to handle raw manipulation of energy the way some humans can."

Hex, standing near the doorway, crossed her arms. "So they experimented on humans instead."

Varin nodded grimly. "They captured operatives—soldiers, civilians, Arcanum Veil members—and subjected them to forced genetic restructuring. They wanted to amplify psionic abilities beyond natural thresholds by fusing Kran neural bioengineering with human minds."

Aegis processed the data, its voice neutral but edged with concern. "Results?"

Varin hesitated. "Some… survived. Their power levels increased exponentially, but their minds… shattered. They became conduits of raw psionic destruction, but with no control. Living weapons. And the ones who didn't survive…" His voice trailed off.

Vale clenched his jaw. "And what about you? What were you working on?"

Varin swallowed hard. "The final phase. The Kran realized their error. So they tried to create a neural interface—a control system. They wanted to harness these 'enhanced' humans as battlefield assets by overriding free will."

Hex's expression darkened. "You mean puppets."

Varin nodded. "Exactly. They designed a neural inhibitor, a subdermal implant that would allow them to remotely control augmented psionics without fear of rebellion."

Aegis displayed one of the schematics. "Probability of Kran field deployment?"

Varin sighed. "If my research facility was the only one working on this, then we may have just set them back years. But I don't believe we were the only site. There are others. And if they complete this project…"

Vale exhaled. "Then we'll be fighting not just Kran soldiers, but our own people—turned into psionic weapons."

A heavy silence filled the chamber.

Hex finally spoke. "We can't let that happen."

Vale nodded. "Then we need to find the other facilities."

Aegis' interface flickered. "Beginning deep-scan intelligence retrieval. If there are more sites, we will find them."

Varin hesitated before looking at Vale. "You have to understand… This is not just science. This is playing god. And if we are not careful, we might become what we're trying to stop."

Vale's gaze was unwavering. "Then we make sure we don't."

The True Cost of Project Eclipse

Dr. Varin's hands trembled slightly as he expanded the holo-display, revealing footage smuggled from the facility. Containment chambers lined the walls, filled with enhanced psionics—humans twisted by forced evolution. Some hovered mid-air, writhing in pain as raw energy crackled around them. Others sat in eerie stillness, their vacant eyes glowing with unstable power.

"The test subjects," Varin said, voice hollow. "Many of them weren't soldiers. Some were civilians the Kran abducted from occupied worlds. Anyone with even the smallest hint of psionic potential was taken."

One feed displayed a combat trial. A test subject—once a human—stood in the center of a Kran military arena. The subject's eyes were vacant, their body wrapped in unstable psionic energy. Kran soldiers surrounded them, weapons raised.

A countdown flashed.

Then the room erupted in chaos.

The subject unleashed a wave of energy, disintegrating the first wave of soldiers instantly. The remaining Kran fired, but the rounds never reached—the subject simply bent reality around them, turning the bullets to dust mid-air. Within seconds, the entire battalion was erased.

Then the footage cut out.

Varin swallowed hard. "They weren't testing weapons. They were testing extinction."

Aegis processed the data. "If the Kran mass-produce these augmented psionics, they will be nearly unstoppable."

Hex clenched her fists. "And if any of them retain fragments of their mind? If they're trapped in their own bodies while the Kran use them as living weapons?"

Vale didn't answer immediately. He didn't have to. They all knew what that meant.

Aegis finally spoke. "One of the files references a secondary research site on Erebus-4. It may contain more details or additional subjects."

Vale's eyes darkened. "Then we're going there next."

Varin looked at him. "If you find more… what are you going to do?"

Vale's voice was cold, absolute. "End it."

The war for psionic supremacy had begun.