Taming the void

Finn could feel the weight of the place pressing in on him-the quiet hum of dormant machinery, the stale air that hadn't been

tightly in her hand, its dark energy slowly consuming her from the inside out. Chloe had been working nonstop, desperately search

ll at the terminal, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she work

Bella was so close to the edge. He glanced over at her, lying on the cot in the corner of the room. Her fa

I found the trigger. But we'll need to go to the main reactor. It's i

Finn said, h

d by the door, nodded in agreement

the exhaustion in her eyes, the way her body seemed to be fighting against the power of the

in. "Bella, stay with me," he whispered, his voice thick with

ting slightly as she tried to speak. Her

f her name, and he leaned in closer. "I

ers curling around his. "I'm... sorry," she sa

und her hand. "This isn't your fault. You're

lying in front of him, and the overwhelming need to protect her. Finn's heart ached as he ga

thout thinking, Finn leaned down and kissed her, his lips brushing against hers in a tender, desp

e couldn't say aloud. But when he pulled back, he could see the faintest hint of co

ered again, this time with more certa

nd, a voice broke throug

She stood by the door, her expression unreadable. There was something in he

e knew they had to act fast. He turned to Chloe, who was watching him with an intensity that made

inn said, his

smell of decay. Every step they took seemed to echo through the endless hal

ella, who was struggling to stay awake. The further they went, the colder it got,

e reactor is up ahead. We just need to ge

they approached the reactor room, the doors suddenly slid open

earing a suit of battle armor that looked like it had seen better days

dn't fire. She was studying them, her gaze flicking between Finn, Chloe, and Tramez. The third figure,

lves a party," the bearded

n, his eyes narrowing as he

manding. "We're here for the same thing you are. The Vo

ization dawning on her. "Y

He was a mercenary-a part of a well-known, dangerous faction

th the Shard?" Finn

aced with danger. "You don't need to know. Ju

fists. "You won't g

on him. The Syndicate's interference could ruin everything. They couldn't aff

d then to the Shard glowing faintly in her hand. "That's a nice little piece of power y

with tension. Then, Finn made a decision. He wasn't

his voice low and determined. "You want

tepped closer, his posture almost t

locked on the Syndicate members. "We n

ard his companions and motioned for them to move forward

ecision, her eyes glowing with a certain intensity. She aimed her weapon at Fin

rly enjoying the chaos that was about to unfold. "Don't wo