Twenty years. For two decades, humanity endured occupation under the Elders. Countless lives were lost in that time—men and women who dared to rebel against their oppressors, only to be crushed beneath the overwhelming force of ADVENT. All of it, every atrocity and calculated deception, served a singular, horrifying purpose: the creation of perfect vessels known as Avatars for the Elders—the powerful psionic overlords once called the Ethereals.
They had never come to uplift humanity, as so many were led to believe. Instead, they harvested humanity like livestock, masking their true intentions beneath promises of unity and advancement. Yet not all were deceived. Resistance cells rose across the world, forged by those who refused to accept ADVENT's lies.
Time and again, these resistance efforts failed. No matter how meticulous their strategies or how devastating their strikes were intended to be, ADVENT remained perpetually one step ahead. Plans unraveled before they could be executed, ambushes were anticipated, and strongholds fell with unnerving precision.
It was as if the enemy could see the future itself. Few understood how such coordination was possible, but one man had long since reached a chilling conclusion.
Central Officer John Bradford understood better than anyone why ADVENT always stayed ahead. To him, the answer was undeniable—his superior was still alive. There was no one else in the world who possessed such a distinct "fingerprint" in warfare. No one else who could predict, adapt, and counter human tactics with such flawless execution. The Commander had to be alive.
Bradford refused to believe that the Commander had betrayed humanity. He knew him too well. The Elders, however, were another matter entirely. If the Commander still lived, then it could only mean one thing—he had been enslaved, forced to serve as a tool for the enemy. For fifteen long years, Bradford and the scattered remnants of XCOM searched tirelessly for any trace of their missing leader.
Hope dwindled with each passing year, until, after nearly half a decade of fruitless searching, an unexpected lead emerged—an anonymous piece of intel pointing to the Commander's possible location.
The mission to verify it fell to Elena Dragunova—Outrider of the Reapers. She infiltrated an ADVENT facility with precision and silence, uncovering a truth that sent shockwaves through the resistance. The intel was real. A rescue operation was immediately launched. It came at a cost—two soldiers lost—but the Commander was recovered.
What they found was worse than anyone had imagined.
Since 2015, the Commander had been held in stasis, implanted with a biological chip, and transformed into a living computer. ADVENT had been feeding them endless combat simulations, extracting their tactical brilliance and transmitting it directly to their forces.
This was the reason behind ADVENT's near-omniscience. They had been using humanity's greatest strategist against humanity itself.
Once freed, the tide of war did not turn overnight, but it shifted—steadily, inexorably. Under the Commander's leadership, ADVENT began to falter. Their flawless coordination fractured. Their once-perfect responses grew sluggish and flawed. Campaign by campaign, XCOM dismantled their grip on Earth. Even the Chosen—those terrifying human-alien hybrids who had willingly become the Elders' "children"—fell before them.
In the end, it culminated in victory. The Elders, inhabiting their perfected Avatar bodies, were defeated by the Commander—who, in a final act of defiance, wielded an Avatar of their own. ADVENT collapsed. Humanity rose. No longer confined to scattered resistance cells, the people of Earth united and fought back, reclaiming their world.
Peace, fragile as it was, followed. XCOM began its transition into a global governing force, tasked with rebuilding a shattered planet. Alien species, many of whom had been enslaved under the Elders' psionic domination, were detained but granted the possibility of eventual freedom—should they prove themselves capable of coexistence.
It was a slow, uneasy process, burdened by years of mistrust and fear.
It should have ended there.
But it didn't.
The most troubling words Bradford had ever heard came a year after the final assault—Operation Leviathan—when the Commander awoke from the strain of their Avatar body.
"One escaped."
The words lingered like a shadow.
Unthinkable, yet undeniable. There was always that one fraction—the one percent that slipped through the cracks. And if even a single Elder remained, then the threat was far from over. Quietly, without alerting the public, XCOM initiated a global search.
The risk of panic was too great, especially in a world still struggling to reconcile with alien integration. Jane Kelly's proposal for the Chimera Squad initiative—a symbol of unity between humans and aliens—already faced enough opposition. Confirmation of a surviving Elder would shatter it entirely.
A week into the search, one conclusion became clear. There were no significant traces of psionic energy anywhere on Earth.
Which meant only one thing.
The Elder was no longer on the planet.
Under the direction of Lily Shen, XCOM diverted resources into the construction of a deep-space scanner capable of detecting psionic anomalies beyond Earth. At the same time, they began development of a new vessel—the Spaceranger—a spacecraft designed for deep-space operations, built from a fusion of human and alien technology.
The project was conducted in absolute secrecy, hidden from a wary public still grappling with the aftermath of liberation.
It took a year.
A full year of silence, uncertainty, and growing tension.
Then, at last, the breakthrough came.
On the Bridge of the Avenger, the deep-space scanner flickered to life, projecting a holographic image of a distant, barren planet.
"Bradford, we found something," Lily Shen said, unable to suppress her smile. She had wagered it would take five years to locate any trace of the Elder, reasoning that it would hide and bide its time. It seemed she now owed Dr. Tygan twenty dollars.
"About damn time," Bradford muttered as he stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the desolate world hovering before him. "I've been looking for an excuse to skip the Council Spokesman's meeting anyway."
He folded his arms, his expression hardening as he studied the projection.
"What have we got, Shen?"
"For starters, the planet is barren, yet an unusual form of energy flows throughout its surface. It isn't psionic, nor does it resemble any known energy from Earth. Its wavelength and frequency are entirely different—almost… 'magical', in a sense." Shen frowned as she studied the readings on her monitor, silently hoping her deep-space scanner was not malfunctioning. "I've pinpointed a single source. It appears to be… a pond. In fact, the only body of water on the entire planet."
"A lone pond on a desolate world, saturated with energy we don't understand?" Bradford said, his voice laced with certainty. His instincts had rarely failed him. Then something else caught his attention. He gestured toward the display. "Zoom in on that area, Shen."
As Shen complied, the magnified image revealed something unmistakable—footprints etched into the barren ground. Not just one set, but many. Bradford's expression darkened as realization set in. The Elder must have fled with remnants of ADVENT before the final assault, meaning their forces were not entirely eradicated. Some had survived. And whatever they were doing, it was centered around that mysterious pond.
"Prep the Spaceranger," Bradford ordered sharply to one of the staff. "Inform Dr. Tygan and have the science team ready to investigate this anomaly. Assemble a squad of operatives as well, in case the situation escalates."
"Shouldn't you inform the Commander first?" Shen interjected, raising a brow. It was unlike Bradford to withhold new intel from the Commander.
Bradford shook his head. "The Commander deserves a proper break. They spent twenty years as a slave to the Elders' systems, and then months leading XCOM without rest. I'll inform them once we have concrete data on that pond. Until then, they should enjoy the peace they fought so hard to achieve."
"Well, they do seem to be enjoying life after the war," Shen admitted. "I'm just glad they never got around to trying ADVENT Burgers, despite Dr. Tygan's recommendation. I still don't have the heart to tell him what the meat is actually made of." She shuddered in disgust. "Anyway, I'll continue monitoring the planet. We don't want Tygan and the science team stranded out there without XCOM support."
"Good. Then I'll—" Bradford stopped mid-sentence, his voice trailing off as he noticed a familiar figure entering the Bridge—though in a form that was anything but familiar.
The Commander strode forward, their gaze fixed on the holographic projection of the unidentified planet. Yet this was not their original body. They now inhabited an Avatar—newly reconstructed in secret by Dr. Tygan a year prior at the Commander's request, anticipating the survival of the last Elder, who might possess a body of similar power. Behind them stood Dr. Tygan himself, casting an awkward glance toward Bradford and Shen, his expression clearly conveying, I know nothing of this, having been summoned by the Commander without explanation.
"Commander… I thought you wouldn't be back until next week," Bradford said, his voice a mix of confusion and relief at his friend's sudden return.
"I just arrived," the Commander replied, his tone weary, yet carrying a quiet edge of determination. "The moment the deep-space scanner began to lock onto this planet, I felt it—psionic energy, calling to me. It compelled me to return to the Avenger immediately. It seems that instinct was correct." He paused briefly. "I had Dr. Tygan prepare my new Avatar body upon my arrival. The last Elder is beyond that pond. I can sense a lingering psionic presence, even if it is overshadowed by… what did you call it, Shen? 'Magical' energy. There is no time for prolonged investigation."
"But sir, we'd be entering completely uncharted territory," Bradford countered, concern evident in his voice. "If what you're saying is true, then the Elder has already crossed into another domain. That kind of environment could be extremely dangerous without a proper Covert Action."
"We don't have that luxury, Bradford," the Commander replied firmly. "The longer we hesitate, the more time the last Elder has to grow in strength. That is a risk we cannot afford. And there is another concern—this 'other place' may be just as vulnerable as Earth once was." Their gaze hardened. "XCOM was formed to defend humanity from extraterrestrial threats, but I cannot ignore the possibility that this new world could suffer the same fate. I will not allow another civilization to be subjugated as ours was."
Silence fell across the Bridge. No one spoke, yet no one needed to. The Commander's reasoning was sound. Every moment of delay gave the Elder an opportunity to regain power, especially after a full year in hiding. And if this anomaly truly led to another world—one untouched, unprepared—then the consequences could be catastrophic. The Elders had already enslaved countless species across the stars. There was no reason to believe this world would be any different.
And with that strange, unknown energy radiating from the pond, there was no telling what new power the last Elder might already be harnessing—or what new species it might already be bending to its will.
"All right, Commander. What is your plan?" Bradford relented, knowing from long experience that the Commander's instincts were rarely wrong, no matter how improbable they seemed.
The Commander turned to address the room. "Bradford, I need you to remain on Earth. You will act as my representative. I've never had much patience for politics—unlike you, who, despite your reluctance, has a certain talent for them." The remark earned Bradford a subtle roll of the eyes.
"I will require Chief Engineer Lily Shen and Dr. Richard Tygan to accompany me, along with two additional engineers and two scientists. Once we understand more about this… environment beyond the pond, there may be an immediate need for research and engineering support."
"You got it, Commander," Shen replied without hesitation, her GREMLIN emitting a soft whir as if echoing her resolve. "I'll bring my best engineers—those most capable of adapting to whatever we encounter."
"As you wish, Commander," Tygan added, his voice tinged with academic curiosity. "I must admit, the prospect of studying entirely new life forms on the other side of that anomaly is… most compelling."
"Shame I'm being left out of the party," Bradford said with a faint smirk, though his tone carried understanding. "But I get it. Someone has to keep things under control here—especially Jane Kelly. She's been pushing hard for approval of this Chimera Squad initiative. I'm not entirely sold on it, but from the way she presents it, there's merit to the idea."
"I hope she succeeds," the Commander said thoughtfully. "It's unfortunate I can't bring her along. She's one of XCOM's finest Rangers."
"Speaking of operatives," Bradford continued, pulling out a clipboard listing all available personnel who had neither retired nor fallen in battle, "who are you selecting for this mission? We've got plenty of candidates, though some are better off staying behind to ensure there are no… complications with any lingering ADVENT elements."
The Commander studied the list in silence. Minutes passed as he carefully evaluated each name, weighing experience, adaptability, and performance during the war against the Elders. At last, selections were made—individuals who had proven themselves time and again under impossible conditions. Each possessed their own distinct quirks and strengths, but together, they formed the most capable team for what could become a prolonged and perilous campaign beyond the anomaly.
"Well," Bradford said after reviewing the marked names, "I can't exactly argue with these choices. They're the best we've got—especially Twilight. She's practically your second-in-command in the field." He handed the list to a nearby crew member to notify the chosen operatives before turning back. "Anything else, Commander?"
"Yes," the Commander replied, his tone growing more serious. "Ensure that my original body remains preserved and intact. Once we eliminate the last Elder, I intend to destroy this Avatar body."
A brief pause followed.
"I cannot justify keeping it any longer. It was created from harvested human material. The fact that I've had to inhabit it again is… already more than I can tolerate."
For a moment, no one spoke.
"Understood, Commander," Bradford said quietly before turning to Firebird. "Prepare the Spaceranger."
Firebrand nodded sharply. "Yes, sir."
Without another word, she headed toward the hangar, a hint of excitement in her stride as she anticipated piloting the vessel for the first time since her promotion the previous year.
"I'll gather my team," Shen said, already moving.
"And I shall do the same," Tygan added, both of them departing toward their respective Engineering and Research divisions.
Bradford exhaled, running a hand across his face. "And I'll draft a report for the Spokesman regarding your… indefinite absence." He paused, his expression softening slightly. "Be careful out there, Commander. We can't afford to lose you again. Not to them."
"If that happens, Bradford," the Commander replied, a faint trace of confidence in his voice, "I trust my operatives will retrieve me before the Elder has the opportunity."
With that, he vanished in a flash of psionic energy.
Bradford let out a quiet chuckle as he turned back to the holographic projection of the barren planet, his gaze steady.
"Vigilo Confido, Commander."
—
In the Living Quarters, a blonde, by-the-book soldier lay sleeping soundly on her bunk. Only recently had she been able to rest without disturbance, nearly a year after the war's end. She was among the few who had chosen to remain aboard the Avenger—those who either had nowhere left to return to, or simply could not bring themselves to leave.
Through long months of therapy, she had finally begun to resist the nightmares that once plagued her every night, allowing herself, for the first time since the invasion twenty-one years ago, to experience something as simple and precious as a peaceful dream.
That fragile moment of tranquility, however, was abruptly shattered by the arrival of a certain exuberant companion.
"Tia! You need to wake up! We're finally being called in again! Finally, after a whole year of boredom!" a man in his mid-twenties exclaimed, bouncing energetically around the room. He wore a mask painted like a killer clown and donned his distinctive pink Warden Armor, his excitement barely contained.
Tia groaned as she pushed herself upright, casting an irritated glare at her overly enthusiastic friend. "Would you stop jumping around, Pinkuichi? It's too early in the morning. And for once, I was actually having a good dream."
"Oooh~! What kind of dream?" Pinkuichi asked eagerly, spinning his katana with impressive speed and precision. "Was it about eating cake? Because now I feel like I should have some cake before this mission!"
Tia's gaze shifted to the weapons in his possession, her irritation giving way to curiosity. "You've got the Chosen Assassin's sword and shotgun. This must be serious."
"You could say this mission is going to be… a long war," Pinkuichi declared dramatically, only to burst into laughter at his own delivery. "Yeah, the Commander picked me as the Ranger for this new campaign as Col. Jane Kelly won't be available. Looks like we've finally got a lead on the Last Elder. And guess what? You're coming too. Besties!"
Tia let out a weary sigh before a faint chuckle escaped her lips. "I suppose someone has to keep an eye on everyone—especially you, 'Pinkie.'"
"Yep! Watching over everyone like the sun in the sky, 'Celestia,'" Pinkuichi replied, using her callsign with a playful grin. "Anyway, I'll meet you in the hangar with the others. We finally get to try out the Spaceranger! I'm so excited I could explode!"
With that, he bounded out of the Living Quarters, hopping along with childlike enthusiasm. Tia rolled her eyes at his antics before swinging her legs over the side of the bunk. Rising to her feet, she stretched briefly, her expression settling into quiet focus. In a swift, almost casual motion, she flicked a paperclip across the room, pinning a fly cleanly against the wall.
"The Last Elder…" she murmured under her breath, reaching for her sunglasses. "I hope you stay dead this time."
She paused for a moment, her voice lowering further.
"Only then can I begin to atone."
With that, she stepped out of the Living Quarters.
—
In the Armory, the selected operatives had already begun to gather. Many of them were familiar faces, bound together by shared battles and hard-won victories. They had fought side by side against the three Chosen during the war, and several had even taken part in the final assault during Operation Leviathan. The atmosphere was one of quiet anticipation, underscored by camaraderie forged in the crucible of conflict.
"Andrea! It's good to see you!" an energetic, blue-haired operative called out, setting her Beam Cannon aside as she rushed forward to embrace her friend. "I thought you weren't coming back. Didn't you leave XCOM to work on… uh… some kind of animal sanctuary?"
Andrea let out a nervous laugh, a faint tremor passing through her as she spoke. "Something like that. I didn't really want to return. Missions were always… terrifying. I just wanted to live peacefully for once."
She hesitated, her expression tightening slightly.
"But when I heard about the Last Elder—and the possibility that it might invade another unknown world… I couldn't just ignore it. I don't want anyone else to suffer. I suppose… I don't need to ask why you came back, Reignbow."
"Ha! Isn't it obvious?" Reignbow replied with a grin, retrieving her Beam Cannon. "There's no way I'm missing the chance to kick that Elder's ass—just like we did to the rest of its kind last year!"
"Good thing Shygirl's here!" Pinkuichi chimed in as he suddenly appeared beside them, his excitement as boundless as ever. He leaned in toward the hovering GREMLIN drone, examining it closely. "Hey there, Fluttershy! How're you doing!?"
The GREMLIN responded with a series of soft beeps and mechanical whirs—sounds that, in Pinkuichi's entirely self-invented "robotic language," apparently translated to "amazing."
Andrea smiled warmly at the sight of her drone. She had been forced to leave it behind with Shen three weeks earlier, as she was not permitted to take valuable XCOM equipment with her upon departure. Even so, she remained deeply grateful that Shen had ensured Fluttershy was still registered to her. Seeing it again now felt like being reunited with an old friend.
"Seriously… it's far too early for this level of enthusiasm." Tia entered the Armory with a quiet yawn, securing her Darklancer rifle across her back.
Reignbow scoffed, folding her arms. "Looks like you're still not done staying on the back lines, Celestia."
"That's because there's a certain 'Rainbow' who constantly needs saving by the sun," Tia replied coolly, raising all ten fingers with a sly smirk—an unspoken tally of how many times she had pulled Reignbow out of danger, particularly from encounters with Mutons.
"Bah! That won't happen again. Mark my words," Reignbow shot back confidently before glancing around the room. "I wonder if we'll have a Reaper, Skirmisher, or Templar joining us. The war against the Elders is not over, so it makes sense they'd be part of this mission, right?"
"If they do join us, I doubt it'll be Outrider or Mox," Tia said thoughtfully. "They're too important to their respective factions. More likely, it'll be operatives we already know."
"If an Elder is involved, then my people will be as well. That last one simply refuses to die," a firm, resolute voice declared.
The operatives turned as a familiar figure approached—a zealous warrior clad in sleek, form-fitting combat armor of dark tones, accented by glowing violet psionic lines.
"Spencer Dragon," Reignbow greeted with a knowing smile. "Of course it'd be you representing the Templars. How's life after the war?"
"It was merely a battle, not a war," Spencer replied, his voice carrying a solemn intensity. "The true war has yet to begin—one you are not aware of. But for now, that battle remains unfinished while the last pest still lives."
His words left an uneasy silence in their wake.
"Are we still incomplete?"
"Oh! Midnight's on her way," Pinkuichi interjected, breaking the tension with a grin. "She's probably busy delivering one of her overly dramatic monologues in the Psi Lab." He paused as he spotted two approaching figures. "Oh hey! It's you guys! I was expecting Outrider and Mox, but I guess they're unavailable."
"Still as energetic as ever, Pinkie," came a calm, measured voice.
A masked woman stepped forward, her presence both quiet and imposing. She wore a dark hooded cloak over a long tactical coat layered atop fitted combat gear. Her face was concealed behind a distinctive gas mask with round, glowing blue lenses, and slung across her shoulder was her Shadow Lance—an advanced variant of the Vektor Rifle.
"G-Good to see you again, Raeri He-joon," Spencer stammered slightly, breaking his usual composure, prompting a soft chuckle from Andrea.
"Likewise, Spike," Raeri replied evenly, standing with composed stillness, entirely unaware of Spencer's long-hidden feelings.
Andrea turned toward the Skirmisher beside Raeri. "It's good to see you too, Mr. Jek. I haven't seen you since we took down the Chosen Hunter."
The Skirmisher let out a hearty laugh. "Much obliged, Shygirl. But you'd best call me Arjax—or Applejack, the callsign you gave me, if you prefer."
Arjax bore the rugged, militarized appearance of his ADVENT origins. His heavy, angular armor—cast in bold orange tones—was reinforced with layered plating, and his helmet fully concealed his face, save for a narrow horizontal green visor. In his hands, he held his Kal-7 Bullpup with practiced ease.
"Silence."
The single word echoed sharply throughout the Armory.
A white-haired woman with piercing violet eyes stepped forward, securing her Advanced Psi Amp across her back. Instantly, the room fell silent—even Pinkuichi. Her presence alone commanded it. More often than not, she served as the team's de facto leader, owing to her close connection with the Commander.
"Long time no see, sis," Spencer greeted. "Your psionic energy is as strong as ever. You've trained well, Midnight."
"Spike," Midnight acknowledged, her expression unreadable as she regarded her younger brother before shifting her gaze to the rest of the team. "The Commander will arrive shortly. Prepare to board the Spaceranger."
Not even a second later, a surge of psionic energy flashed across the room as the Commander materialized within the Armory. Their gaze swept over the collected remnants of XCOM's past victories. No one spoke. No one dared to. The sight of the Commander inhabiting an Avatar body once more was enough to silence any questions that might have formed.
"What are you waiting for?" the Commander said firmly. "Sentry is already aboard the Spaceranger. Move out."
"…Huh?"
A ripple of confusion spread among the operatives—everyone except Midnight—as they turned toward the Spaceranger. Inside, a blue-toned SPARK unit—SPARK-113, better known by his callsign, Sentry—stood waiting, offering them a polite wave.
"Get moving," Midnight said flatly as she stepped toward the transport. "We're hunting an Elder."
"This is going to be the most exciting—and dangerous—mission yet!" Pinkuichi exclaimed, practically vibrating with anticipation as Tia rolled her eyes in response.
"Heck yeah!" Reignbow added enthusiastically, while Andrea exhaled softly, caught somewhere between concern and quiet resolve.
Each operative boarded the Spaceranger one by one. The vessel was a deep-space tactical transport—a spacefaring successor to the Skyranger—engineered through a fusion of human innovation and salvaged alien technology, designed specifically for operations beyond Earth. In appearance, it was a formidable craft, approximately forty meters in length, with wide, swept wings and a dark metallic hull reinforced by alien alloys.
At its rear, three powerful engines provided propulsion for interstellar travel, while maneuvering thrusters along the wings allowed for precise atmospheric navigation. Sensor arrays mounted along the nose enabled advanced scanning of unknown environments. The ship was also equipped with defensive systems, including retractable beam turrets and countermeasures, ensuring survivability during extended and hazardous missions.
Inside, the Spaceranger housed a sophisticated cockpit outfitted with holographic navigation controls. The central troop bay featured reinforced seating designed for heavily armored operatives, with weapon racks lining the walls for easy access. At the rear, a deployment ramp allowed for rapid insertion into hostile zones. Beyond that lay compact engineering and research stations, where technicians and scientists could analyze alien artifacts or study unfamiliar energy signatures during prolonged assignments.
Pinkuichi let out a low whistle, his usual exuberance momentarily subdued as he took in the sight of the spacecraft before stepping aboard. "Chief Shen and her engineers really outdid themselves with this beauty."
"She is Dr. Raymond Shen's daughter, after all," Andrea replied as she secured herself into her seat.
Meanwhile, the Commander lingered for a brief moment, casting one last glance at the remnants of the enemies they had once faced—particularly the fallen Chosen. The memory passed quickly as Dr. Tygan and Lily Shen, accompanied by their engineers and scientists, entered the Spaceranger. In a flash of psionic energy, the Commander followed, taking a seat between Midnight and Dr. Tygan.
"We're ready for departure, Firebrand," the Commander said.
"Copy that, Commander," Firebrand responded over the comms. "Spaceranger, preparing for launch."
As the hangar bay doors opened, the Spaceranger surged forward, ascending rapidly into the sky. It pierced through the stratosphere, then the mesosphere, and onward through the thermosphere, until at last it broke free into the vast expanse of space—this time without interference, unlike the near-catastrophic encounter with ADVENT remnants the previous year.
—
Upon arrival at the barren planet two hours later—thanks to the prototype hyperspace drive installed on the Spaceranger—Shen had already taken it upon herself to name the world "Shenshine," citing the fact that she had been the one to discover it. Fortunately, it remained only a temporary designation; the Commander clearly disliked the name, though they lacked the heart to say so, given Shen's enthusiasm.
Regardless, the Spaceranger descended and landed near the source of the anomaly—the so-called "magical" pond.
"That's… unusual. Though I suppose it shouldn't be surprising anymore," Shen remarked as she presented her tablet to the Commander. "There's a stable oxygen presence on this planet. It's completely breathable."
She paused, glancing toward the pond.
"Whatever that thing is, Commander, it's definitely not natural. Perhaps Dr. Tygan should analyze it first before we… step into it."
"She is correct, Commander," Tygan added, adjusting his glasses as he studied the readings. "We know nothing about this anomaly. It would be prudent to conduct a brief analysis—an hour or two at most—before we proceed recklessly into whatever lies beyond. However, the final decision rests with you."
The Commander remained silent for a moment before turning toward Midnight and Spencer. "Do you feel that? It's… different from psionic energy."
"Yes, Commander," Midnight replied after a brief pause. "It feels… harmonious, I suppose. I cannot properly describe it, but it lacks the usual volatility."
Spencer closed his eyes in meditation for a few seconds before opening them again. "You're right, sister. This energy does not carry the chaotic nature of psionics. In fact, it feels… opposite in nature. If anything, it aligns more closely with what one might describe as 'magic.'"
"There's your answer, Doctor," the Commander said calmly. "I do not sense this energy as dangerous or unstable in the way psionic energy often is." With that, they stepped out of the Spaceranger. "We will proceed shortly. Prepare yourselves mentally. I will examine the anomaly more closely before we attempt to take the Spaceranger through it."
"As you wish, Commander," Tygan replied, drawing in a steady breath.
As the Commander departed, the operatives began to occupy themselves in their own ways. Spencer attempted to strike up a conversation with Raeri, though she remained quiet and focused, offering little response. Nearby, Reignbow and Andrea played a quick match of rock-paper-scissors, with Andrea emerging victorious five to three—much to Reignbow's visible confusion.
Midnight and Spencer eventually returned to meditation, centering their psionic energy. Arjax methodically sharpened his ripjack, while Pinkuichi balanced the Assassin's katana atop his fingertip with playful precision. Tia observed the display with mild amusement, though her expression remained largely unimpressed. Sentry stood silently, as he was not programmed to initiate conversation.
"Are you alright, Doctor?" Shen asked, her tone laced with concern.
Tygan exhaled slowly. "I find uncertainty… deeply unsettling, Shen. However, I trust the Commander. If they believe it is safe, then I shall proceed accordingly. And you? Do you not feel any unease?"
"Strangely enough, I feel the opposite," Shen admitted. "I'm… excited. Who knows what lies beyond? There could be entirely new forms of technology waiting to be discovered—things we've never even imagined." She hesitated, tempering her enthusiasm. "Of course, I'll remain cautious. The last thing we need is another Julian situation."
A sudden flash of psionic energy filled the interior as the Commander reappeared inside the Spaceranger, startling several occupants—much to Pinkuichi's amusement.
"I've made contact with the water," the Commander stated. "It appears normal at first, but it has no measurable depth. I've concluded that it functions as a portal." Their gaze swept across the room. "Whatever awaits us on the other side, as long as the last Elder still lives, we must confront it. Are you all mentally prepared?"
The operatives responded with firm nods, as did Shen and her engineers. Tygan and his scientists followed more hesitantly, though they too gave their confirmation.
"What about you, Firebrand?" the Commander asked, their tone softening slightly. "You'll be piloting to potential danger."
Firebrand nodded with confidence. "Affirmative, Commander."
"Then let's move."
The Spaceranger lifted from the ground and advanced toward the pond, its surface shimmering like liquid moonlight. As the vessel entered, reality itself seemed to distort. Gravity lost all meaning, and the structure of the spacecraft stretched and warped as it was drawn into the swirling depths. The strange, "magical" energy enveloped them completely, folding around the ship as it propelled them through a silent, radiant cascade of color and light.