Echoes of the Past

The silence of space had always brought me comfort. There was something reassuring about the absolute void, even if my life was constantly surrounded by chaos and violence. But at that particular moment, as we left Naxion-9 behind, the silence seemed heavy with dangerous questions I wasn't ready to answer.

"We need to find a safe place," I finally said, breaking the uncomfortable quiet inside the ship. "Somewhere we can hide and analyze this information calmly."

The archaeologist looked up slowly, his expression tired and troubled.

"I know a place, but I'm not sure you'll like it much."

I sighed, running a hand over my forehead, trying to ignore the strange pulsation coming from my mechanical arm since our contact with the magical fragment. I didn't have many options now. I needed answers quickly before Vhalkir Syndrome or the Empire caught up with me.

"Just tell me what you have in mind," I replied.

"Tarfos VII," he said after a hesitant pause. "I have a contact there, someone who can help us decipher the map. But it's not exactly the kind of planet anyone would choose to visit willingly."

"I've been to worse places," I muttered, inputting the coordinates into the ship's computer. "If this contact can give us answers, that'll be enough."

The runic interceptor's engine came to life again, the magical vibration of the interstellar jump filling the cabin with its characteristic hum. I watched Naxion-9 slowly disappear from the rear view screen, leaving behind the distorted ruins and the Imperial soldiers.

As we traveled, an uneasy silence hung in the cockpit. The archaeologist, restless, finally broke the silence after a few minutes.

"Those bodies… How were they alive? I've studied ancient civilizations for decades, but that…"

"They weren't alive," I corrected. "Something was controlling them, using them as puppets. Maybe something related to the Heart of the Galaxy itself. But I still can't explain exactly what it was."

He shook his head, perplexed.

"You seemed to recognize them. Have you seen something like that before?"

I took a deep breath before answering.

"Yes, I've seen similar things. When you deal with unstable magic like this, you end up encountering a lot of things you'd rather forget."

He nodded slowly, silently, clearly shaken by the traumatic experience.

I turned my gaze to the side window, watching the stars streak by as the magical engine pulsed softly in the background. The visions I had on Naxion-9 kept invading my mind, especially that strange fragment: the silent explosion of light that devoured everything.

My mechanical arm suddenly vibrated intensely, violently pulling me from my thoughts. I looked down with growing horror. Small luminous veins were slowly appearing on the metallic surface, pulsing in a rhythm I couldn't identify.

Something was changing inside me. And it wasn't something good.

"Are you okay?" the archaeologist asked, noticing my reaction.

"Yeah," I lied. "Just side effects from overusing the prosthetic."

He didn't seem to believe me but didn't press further. He just shrank into his seat, sinking into a troubled silence until we reached our destination.

Hours later, Tarfos VII appeared in the cabin window, a world shrouded in dense, polluted clouds. The surface was a sprawling, chaotic metropolis, known for its black markets and criminal gangs. The perfect place to hide—and the ideal place to find more trouble.

We landed in a forgotten hangar, amidst the strong smell of smoke, fuel, and accumulated garbage. We walked through crowds of shady merchants and bounty hunters, ignoring the suspicious glances that followed us.

"Where's your contact?" I asked cautiously.

"In the underground market for forbidden technology," the archaeologist replied. "A Vhorkan named Kel'Drek. Don't trust him more than necessary. The price he charges always ends up being higher than you expect."

We descended through tunnels lit by flickering lamps. Merchants of different races jostled for space to offer illegal implants, modified weapons, and tampered catalysts. Finally, we reached a makeshift shop, hidden behind worn velvet curtains. A tall alien with scaly skin and four wary eyes smiled slowly as he saw the archaeologist.

"Therion, old friend... I see you haven't brought good news this time."

"I need you to look at something," the archaeologist said, ignoring the Vhorkan's comments and pushing the incomplete map toward him.

The Vhorkan examined the object slowly, his expression quickly shifting from curiosity to concern.

"Where did you get this?" he asked seriously, his tone unusually somber.

"Naxion-9," I answered for Therion. "We almost died for it, so treat it with care."

Kel'Drek gave me an appraising look before smiling, revealing sharp teeth.

"You have no idea what you've just brought here, human," he said, gesturing dramatically at the map. "This is a piece of the galaxy's own history. And I fear you've attracted unwanted attention."

A chill ran down my spine.

"What are you talking about?"

The Vhorkan smiled darkly.

"It's not just the Imperials who want this. I've heard rumors... rumors of older, more dangerous things interested in the Heart of the Galaxy."

An oppressive silence fell over the makeshift shop after Kel'Drek's words. Therion seemed on the verge of a nervous breakdown, his hands trembling and his eyes fixed on the hologram of the incomplete map. The Vhorkan watched us with an enigmatic expression, patiently waiting for the information to sink in.

"What exactly do you know about these 'older things'?" I finally asked, breaking the tension.

Kel'Drek moved his four eyes slowly, scrutinizing my expression before answering.

"Just rumors, of course. Fragments of stories that reach me through smugglers who visit forgotten planets. But they all say the same thing: the Heart of the Galaxy isn't just an artifact. Some believe it's alive. A conscious entity, far older than anything we've ever encountered."

Therion paled even further, if that was possible.

"Are you saying everything we know about it could be wrong?"

Kel'Drek slowly shook his scaly head.

"I'm saying that perhaps no one knows the truth about the Heart. The Dominion Solari believes it can control it, but there are greater powers in this galaxy. Powers that have slept for a long time and may awaken again if they sense the presence of this artifact."

I felt a strange vibration in my biomechanical arm as I heard his words, as if they resonated somewhere deep within me. I ignored the discomfort and focused on the immediate situation.

"We need to decipher this map before these so-called ancient powers or the Empire find us first. Can you do it or not?"

The Vhorkan smiled, almost amused by my urgency.

"I can try, but it will take some time. The map uses an ancient stellar language. I'll need to consult my archives and perhaps contact other experts."

Therion sighed, seeming to regain some composure.

"How long?"

Kel'Drek hesitated briefly.

"A few hours, maybe more. I suggest you don't stay here. This market is full of eyes that sell information to the Dominion Solari. Go back to your hideout and wait. I'll contact you as soon as I have answers."

Something about the Vhorkan's evasive manner didn't sit well with me, but we had no choice but to trust him. I nodded quickly.

"Let's head back to the ship," I told Therion. "And don't talk to anyone until we hear from Kel'Drek again."

He nodded, still shaken, and we made our way through the dark corridors of the underground market, the merchant's words echoing in my mind.

As we reached the surface of Tarfos VII again, I felt a brief relief, quickly replaced by deep unease. The streets were bustling as always, but a noticeable tension hung in the air. It seemed like more eyes than usual were on us, and I immediately realized we were no longer just anonymous outsiders here.

"We need to get out of here," I whispered to Therion. "Now."

We hurried toward the hangar, but before we could reach the ship, I realized the ambush too late. Imperial soldiers appeared in front of us, blocking the entrance. Behind them, emerging from the shadows, was High Inquisitor Vharya herself.

"I didn't think you'd be so careless, Julian," her voice was calm, almost casual, but it carried a deadly threat. "This is the end of the line for you and your friend."

I slowly raised my hands, while the archaeologist visibly trembled beside me.

"You don't need to involve him in this, Vharya. He's no threat," I tried, knowing it wouldn't help.

She smiled coldly.

"He stole something from the Empire, Julian. It's not your decision who is or isn't a threat."

Therion swallowed hard but mustered enough courage to speak in a shaky voice.

"You don't know what you're trying to do! The Heart of the Galaxy can't be controlled!"

Vharya gave him a look of absolute disdain.

"You underestimate the power of the Dominion Solari. But don't worry, you'll soon understand the truth."

As she spoke, I felt my prosthetic vibrate with increasing intensity, reacting to the High Inquisitor's proximity and the magical catalysts in her weapons. It was as if something inside me was slowly awakening.

"Now, surrender. We don't have any more time to waste on these games," she ordered, gesturing for her soldiers to advance.

I could have surrendered there, but I knew exactly how it would end: brutal interrogations, Imperial prisons, or something even worse. That wasn't how I intended to die.

As the soldiers closed in, I made an instinctive decision. I quickly activated a small magical pulse grenade hidden in my coat sleeve and threw it directly at the group. A burst of light and sound engulfed the area, temporarily disorienting our attackers.

"Run!" I shouted at Therion, pushing him away from the soldiers while I drew my arcane pistol again.

Chaos took over the hangar as civilians screamed and fled, ships desperately fired up their engines to escape the confusion, and Imperial soldiers tried to reach me through the crowd. Vharya momentarily disappeared from view, but I knew she wouldn't give up so easily.

We ran through the narrow streets of Tarfos VII, dodging panicked crowds until we found makeshift shelter in an abandoned building. Therion collapsed exhausted against a rusted wall, panting, fear and anger mixed on his face.

"How long until Kel'Drek contacts us?" I asked, feeling a desperate urgency take hold.

"I have no idea," he murmured weakly. "But we have no choice but to wait."

I took a deep breath, trying to control my own anxiety as I watched the chaos outside. My thoughts raced, caught between the fear of what was chasing us and the questions about what we had found on Naxion-9.

And deep in my mind, something unsettling stirred, whispering silently like the creatures we had faced on the previous planet. Something ancient and hungry, now connected to me.

I could no longer ignore the fact that I was changing. Something inside me was responding to the Heart of the Galaxy. And that was as terrifying as facing the High Inquisitor.

The truth was, I had no idea who or what I was becoming. But one thing I knew for sure:

My life would never be the same again.