Taming the void

s stillness, had retreated, slinking back into the shadows. For a brief, heart-stopping moment, it felt like the calm before the s

ice low and strained. "Wha

he was calm, almost eerily so, the Shard still humming faintly in

edged with disbelief, his gut still twisted in tension. He was

But it didn't attack, which means it's reacting to t

ming them is one thing, controlling them is another." Finn took a slow breath, scan

need to move. I don't like the silen

"Maybe we should take a closer look at the area. The Strynx aren't going to j

thing earnest, something he hadn't seen before. She wasn't just the bioengineer he'd met on the Coalition ship any

't have tim

ience project, Chloe. Those

weapon, signaling the group to move. "Let's keep it moving.

ive, and even the ground beneath their feet felt like it was holding its breath. Finn's instincts screamed that something was

undings, but he couldn't shake the feeling that her presence was beginning to distract him. Her determination, her careful observ

m? The Strynx... I mean, the Shard could be a weapon, or maybe a tool, but..." She trailed off, glancing up at him. Her green eyes we

way she shifted her weight nervously. He wasn't used to seeing peopl

ontrolling them might be our only shot. But every time I think I ha

. It wasn't the usual respect she gave him as a fellow survivor, but something more personal

rd's more than a tool. It's like it's alive, Finn. Like it's guiding us to something." Her voice dropped lower,

. For a moment, he didn't see the bioengineer or the Coalition ally. He saw Ch

nly one who feels that way. But we have to keep our heads. The min

her, something that hadn't been there before, and Finn didn't know how to process it. She wasn't the cold,

re, Tramez's voice cut through the

ing them into a vast underground cavern. Here, the air was thick, heavy with the stench of decay and the unmistakable tang of fear.

walls. They were covered with intricate carvings, strange symbols

the walls. "A civilization t

g the glyphs. "But this is where they b

ng against the brittle ground. "Created

ngineered. Used as weapons. And the S

r of the team froze. It was closer now-too close. A massive figur

," Finn muttered under hi

others, her black, scaled body glistening in the dim light. Her eyes were

Void Shard glowing brighter in

ed with recognition-not of Bella, not of the Shard.