Three days. 

Three agonizingly silent days since Pyraf left Kael in the cold, strange chamber; time dragged and twisted, turning moments into hours and hours into an eternity that seemed to stretch endlessly.

The dim holographic glow of indecipherable projections was his only companion; fragmented star charts and shifting glyphs danced mockingly in the light, offering nothing but confusion and frustration.

Kael had tried; tried desperately; to piece together the scattered shards of truth Pyraf had dumped on him; his mind clawed at the fragments, grasping for clarity amidst the chaos.

The breach, the message, the Circle, the endless pursuit.

None of it answered the burning question that gnawed at the edges of his soul.

The question he had carried like a specter for years, haunting him with its silence.

Kael’s fists clenched tightly, his nails biting into his palms as frustration boiled over; the physical tension mirrored the storm raging within him, a fire that had nowhere to burn but inward.

"All this time..." he growled under his breath, his voice thick with anger; the sound carried the weight of bitterness years in the making.

"All this time, people knew. They knew about the breach. About the visions. And yet, I was left to rot; suffering alone, thinking I was losing my mind."

His voice cracked, trembling with rage and the weight of years spent in isolation; each word quivered under the strain of suppressed fury and unspoken pain.

"Why did I have to bear this? Why me? What the hell am I even supposed to do now?"

He slammed his fist against the steel wall, the hollow thud reverberating through the chamber; the sound echoed like a distorted cry, bouncing off the cold walls and amplifying the chaos within him.

Kael dropped to the edge of the table, burying his face in his hands; the gesture was heavy, as though he were trying to shield himself from the crushing weight of his thoughts. The hollow silence of the chamber pressed down on him, suffocating and unforgiving; it wrapped around him like a cold, unyielding shroud, magnifying his despair until it became unbearable.

The silence shattered with the sound of the hatch hissing open; the sharp noise cut through the oppressive stillness, snapping Kael out of his turbulent thoughts.

Kael’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing at the shadowy figure stepping into the room. Pyraf. His silver hair gleamed faintly in the dim light, but this time his expression was tight, urgent; as though the weight of a thousand worlds rested squarely on his shoulders.

"Took you long enough," Kael spat bitterly, rising to his feet; his frustration simmered, boiling over in his words.

Pyraf ignored the venom in his tone.

"No time for pleasantries," he said briskly, his voice sharp and precise. "The Circle’s found us."

Kael froze, his body tensing instinctively; his heart hammered against his ribs as a chill ran down his spine. "What do you mean they’ve found us? You said this place was safe."

"It was." Pyraf shot him a glare, pulling a sleek plasma sidearm from his belt.

"Until someone underestimated just how desperate they are; to get their hands on you."

The weight of Pyraf’s words hit Kael like a physical blow.

"You’re saying they’re here? Right now?"

Pyraf nodded grimly; his silence carried the confirmation Kael dreaded.

"Closing in. Their operatives are already on the surface, and we don’t have the firepower to hold them off. We need to move. Now."

Kael bristled, his mind racing with doubt and frustration.

"Move where? You’ve been cryptic about everything since this nightmare started. Not moving anywhere until you clarify things."

Pyraf’s gaze turned ice-cold, unyielding; his piercing eyes fixed on Kael with a force that silenced any further protest.

"You think you have a choice? Fine. Stay here, let them carve the answers out of you, and die ignorant. Or,"

"Or what?" Kael shot back, defiance flaring in his tone.

"Travel through that miniature spacegate, and get some real answers from someone who knows more than either of us."

"Spacegate? And someone who?" Kael demanded, his tone sharp and suspicious.

"The Oracle."

Kael blinked, incredulous.

"The Oracle...? That’s your plan? An Oracle? What’s that, a witch now? Some witch hiding out on a cursed planet? You’ve got to be kidding me."

"Not kidding. Not explaining either. Let’s move," Pyraf snapped, grabbing Kael’s arm and dragging him towards the door; there was no room for debate in his tone, only urgency.

The corridors leading to the spacegate were narrow and winding, their metallic walls gleaming faintly under flickering emergency lights. Each step reverberated faintly in the confined space, amplifying the tension.

Pyraf moved quickly, his hand never leaving the hilt of his plasma weapon. 

Kael followed closely, every nerve in his body on high alert; the suffocating stillness of the hallways was broken only by the faint echo of their steps.

Behind them, the first signs of pursuit echoed down the halls; harsh, deliberate footsteps, punctuated by the distant hiss of plasma bursts.

"They’re here," Kael hissed, his voice tight with dread as his heart pounded in his chest.

"Stay behind me and don’t stop for anything," Pyraf commanded, his sharp eyes glinting with grim resolve as he glanced back briefly.

They rounded a corner just as three figures clad in sleek, black armor emerged from the shadows ahead, weapons raised. Circle operatives.

Their helmets gleamed under the flickering lights, their red visors glowing like malevolent stars; their presence radiated precision and danger, like shadows given form.

Pyraf didn’t hesitate. He raised his sidearm, firing off precise plasma shots; each movement was smooth, efficient; a stark reminder of the lethal experience he carried.

Two of the operatives dove for cover, but the third wasn’t fast enough; the bolt struck him squarely in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Move!" Pyraf shouted, grabbing Kael’s arm and pulling him forward.

The remaining operatives returned fire, their shots barely missing as Pyraf and Kael darted through the corridor. Sparks flew as plasma bolts struck the walls, filling the air with the acrid smell of burned metal; the corridor crackled with danger, every step a gamble for survival.

They reached a sealed door at the end of the corridor.

Pyraf slammed his hand onto the console, inputting a rapid sequence of codes; his fingers moved with practiced speed, urgency flashing in his eyes.

The door hissed open to reveal the miniature spacegate. 

A swirling portal of light and energy that pulsed like a living thing; its rhythmic glow seemed almost aware, drawing Kael’s gaze with an unsettling intensity.

"Go!" Pyraf barked, shoving Kael toward the gate.

Kael hesitated, his gaze darting between the portal and the approaching operatives.

"What about you?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

Pyraf gave him a hard look.

"Everyone has their own role to play. Yours lies through that portal."

"Always stay vigilant; kid. Now move on!"

Before Kael could argue further, the lights flickered, and a low mechanical hum echoed through the chamber; the sound carried a foreboding resonance, as if marking the approaching end.

Kael gritted his teeth and stepped into the spacegate. 

The energy surrounded him instantly, pulling him into a vortex of blinding light and searing heat; the sensation was overwhelming, a rush of energy that stripped away all sense of direction.

His last glimpse of Pyraf was of the man raising his weapon, turning to face the operatives with a look of grim determination; a silent, resolute promise to hold the line, no matter the cost.

*****