The Awakening

The chamber erupted with a deafening sound, the ship shaking violently as if caught in the grip of some invisible force. Mira screamed, her body convulsing as the energy from the core surged through her.

"NO!" Kaelen shouted, rushing forward, but he was too late. The power was too much for Mira to handle. Her body arched violently, her face contorted in agony.

"Mira!" Kaelen screamed, his heart pounding in his chest. He tried to reach for her, but it was as if an invisible wall had risen between them, holding him back. The whispering voices were deafening now, filling every corner of his mind, every thought.

She is part of us now. You are part of us.

Kaelen could barely hear himself think. He watched in horror as Mira's body began to twist, her eyes turning black as the entity took root in her. The power of the core surged through her like a virus, corrupting her from the inside out.

"Mira! Fight it!" Kaelen shouted, his voice hoarse, but it was no use. The entity had claimed her.

Her body slumped to the ground, lifeless. And in her place, something else stirred. Something dark. Something that was no longer Mira.

Kaelen staggered back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel the entity's presence in the air, thick and suffocating. The core had been a gateway. And now, it was open. The entity had crossed over, and it was ready to take them all.