The station remained eerily silent in the aftermath. No alarms. No emergency broadcasts. Just the quiet hum of restored power and the distant sound of officers scrambling through the corridors.
Elias still felt the weight of what had happened. He wasn't sure if he'd ever stop feeling it.
Roarke was the first to break the silence. "We need answers. Now."
Elias ran a hand through his hair, still catching his breath. "I don't know if we have time for that."
Sienna turned toward the viewport, looking out over the docking bay where the Eclipse still sat, energy flickering across its hull. "We just watched reality break apart. And the only thing that stopped it was the Nexus itself." She exhaled sharply. "I don't think that was a rescue mission. I think it was a warning."
Roarke's jaw tightened. "You're telling me we just got caught in the middle of something we don't understand?"
Elias met his gaze. "No, Admiral. I'm telling you we just watched the first crack in a dam that's about to shatter."
Roarke studied him for a long moment. Then, he turned to one of his officers. "Status report."
The officer, a young lieutenant with sweat beading on his forehead, swallowed hard. "Station integrity is holding. But…" He hesitated.
"But what?" Roarke pressed.
The lieutenant exhaled. "Sir, we ran a system-wide scan after the breach collapsed. And we picked up energy signatures we've never seen before."
Elias felt his stomach twist. "Where?"
The lieutenant tapped at a holographic display, and a galactic map materialized in front of them. Several red markers pulsed in the depths of uncharted space.
Then more appeared.
And more.
Within seconds, over a dozen anomalies were blinking across the void.
Sienna's voice was barely a whisper. "That's… impossible."
The lieutenant looked up. "Sir, these signals match the same quantum signature as the Nexus." He hesitated. "But they aren't just appearing. They're spreading."
Elias stepped closer, his eyes locked on the pulsing markers. "You're saying the breach wasn't an isolated event."
The officer nodded. "Sir, whatever's happening—it's not just happening here."
Roarke turned to Elias. His expression was grim. "Then we need to act fast."
Elias's mind raced. The Nexus had intervened to close the breach, but not before something had made it through. And now…
It was spreading.
Sienna clenched her fists. "So what's the plan?"
Elias exhaled. "We get back to the Nexus."
Roarke narrowed his eyes. "You want to go back?"
Elias nodded. "It's the only thing standing between us and whatever's trying to break through. If we don't figure out how to reinforce the seal, there won't be a galaxy left to protect."
Roarke studied him, then turned back to the holographic map. After a long pause, he muttered, "God help us all."
Then, he gave the order.
"Prep a fleet. We're going back to The Nexus."
And this time, they wouldn't be alone.