Night fell fast on the new world The twin moons rose pale ghosts against a darkening sky Kael parked the ship near the beacon’s remains setting up camp He ate in silence listening to the faint hum of the ground

Nara’s voice drifted through the static You should rest Kael said Rest is for people who don’t owe ghosts She replied Aiden would disagree He smiled faintly Maybe but he’s not the one stuck cleaning up his miracles

A soft vibration trembled through the sand He frowned sensors lighting up again multiple energy signatures closing fast He grabbed his rifle scanning the horizon shapes moving low barely visible He whispered We’ve got company

Figures emerged from the fog slender metallic forms walking on four limbs glowing blue eyes piercing the dark Nara identified them immediately Autonomous collectors relic drones from Erebus era Kael muttered Great the clean up crew from hell

The drones advanced in silence scanning the area beams sweeping across the camp One beam passed over Kael’s ship causing Nara’s voice to glitch warning They’re targeting residual Gate energy Kael said Then they’re after you

He opened fire plasma bolts cutting through the fog Two drones fell sparking the rest turning toward him He moved fast rolling behind a wreck firing short bursts but there were too many They surrounded him moving like animals metal claws scraping the sand

Nara’s tone urgent The beacon core beneath you still contains active charge redirect it through your weapon Kael barked And how exactly do I do that She replied Improvisation He grinned I’m good at that

He pulled a cable from the ship linking it to his rifle The weapon hummed blue energy building The next shot tore through three drones at once leaving smoking holes in the sand He laughed That’s more like it The remaining drones regrouped their bodies twisting merging into a single massive form eight limbs claws glowing white

Kael whispered That’s cheating The giant drone lunged He dove aside firing until the rifle overheated He reached for another grenade hurling it under the creature’s body The blast threw him backward He hit the ground hard vision flashing

When the dust cleared the drone still moved slower but alive Nara said Kael the core’s containment breaking He looked up seeing the beacon glow beneath the ground cracks spreading like veins He shouted Nara if you can hear me do it whatever you’re thinking do it She hesitated Aiden’s protocols forbid Kael yelled He’s not here anymore

The ground exploded in light The beacon’s pulse shot upward tearing through the dark The drones disintegrated into ash The energy wave expanded across the valley illuminating the sky The moons turned silver the clouds scattering Kael shielded his eyes

When it faded he stood alone again the world quiet except for wind Nara’s voice returned softer than before Process complete containment secured He laughed breathless Yeah sure I’ll just pretend that didn’t almost kill me

He looked up at the glowing sky feeling the air hum with new energy He whispered We’re still here

Far away beyond the horizon something stirred a new signal rising faint but growing stronger A voice not Aiden’s not Nara’s whispered through the comm repeating a phrase in an old Federation dialect Return to Erebus

Kael frowned What did you just say Nara replied That was not me He stared at the horizon jaw tightening Guess the ghosts aren’t done after all

He climbed back into the ship engines roaring into life The sky ahead burned silver and black as he rose toward it The adventure wasn’t over not yet