Chapter 103: The Ghost Station
The shuttle drifted into the docking bay of Outpost Haven-12, its landing thrusters firing softly as it settled onto the deck. The moment the hatch hissed open, a wave of stale, pressurized air greeted them. The scent of rust, decayed electronics, and something indistinctly old filled the corridor beyond.
Raizen stepped onto the platform first, his golden eyes scanning the dimly lit interior. His Draconic Aura stirred faintly, responding to the strange energy lingering in the air.
Joran took a cautious step forward. "I hate places like this."
Kain raised his weapon. "We're not alone here."
Liana frowned as she studied her holo-display. "No life signs, no movement detected. But the station is drawing power from somewhere. That's not normal for a two-hundred-year-old wreck."
Raizen tightened his grip on his sidearm. "Let's find out what's keeping the lights on."
A Tomb of Forgotten Time
They moved through the decrepit corridors, their boots making soft echoes against the metallic flooring. The station was massive, a once-functioning military outpost now reduced to a shell of itself.
Emergency lights flickered along the walls, illuminating old banners bearing faded insignias—symbols of an ancient alliance long forgotten.
Kain ran a hand over one of the insignias. "This… isn't from any faction I recognize."
Liana scanned it. "That's because this predates most modern Tier 3 factions. If my readings are right, this station was operational during the Draconic Wars."
Raizen's jaw tightened. The Draconic Wars—the battles that erased his homeworld, the conflicts that led to the extinction of his people.
And yet, here he was, standing in the remnants of that lost era.
Joran's voice cut in. "You feel that?"
Raizen did.
The air was thick, almost pressurized, like they were being watched.
His Draconic instincts flared—not in fear, but in warning.
Something was here.
Deeper into the Darkness
They descended into the lower levels, the atmosphere growing colder, heavier with each step.
Liana's scanner flickered. "Power fluctuations… something is routing energy through the core systems."
Kain clicked his tongue. "You're saying the station isn't just running on backup? Someone—or something—is keeping it alive?"
Liana nodded. "And I don't think it's human."
Raizen's voice was calm but sharp. "Weapons ready. We're not alone."
The corridor ahead split into three paths—one leading toward a collapsed section, another toward the control center, and the last toward a sealed vault.
Raizen pointed toward the vault. "That's where we're going."
Joran sighed. "Of course, we're picking the most ominous path."
The Vault of Secrets
The vault door was massive, reinforced with layers of alloy untouched by time. Despite centuries of decay elsewhere, this part of the station remained pristine—a stark contrast to the crumbling corridors around it.
Liana examined the lock. "This isn't just standard security… this is Draconic-tier technology. Someone built this vault to withstand everything short of a planetary bombardment."
Raizen's golden eyes flickered with intrigue. "Then whatever's inside is worth keeping."
He placed a hand on the door, and the moment his Draconic Aura pulsed against it—
The station trembled.
Liana's scanner beeped wildly. "Something just activated!"
The sound of shifting metallic groans echoed through the walls, as if the station itself had been waiting for this moment. Hidden machinery stirred to life, sending pulses of ancient energy through the corridors.
Kain stepped back. "Tell me that was normal."
Joran exhaled. "That was not normal."
Raizen smirked. "Then let's see what's waking up."
The Unsealed Vault
The door unlocked with a deep, mechanical hiss, parting slowly to reveal—
A chamber lined with ancient stasis pods.
At the very center, unlike the others, was a larger pod, its surface etched with glowing Draconic markings. It pulsed faintly, its systems still active after centuries.
Liana's breath hitched. "This… this isn't just a vault. This is a preservation chamber."
Joran frowned. "Preserving what?"
Raizen stepped forward, placing a hand against the central pod.
The moment his skin made contact—
A deep vibration surged through the station.
The pod interface lit up, recognizing him.
A voice—soft, ancient, feminine—spoke through the chamber.
"Bloodline recognized. Initiating awakening protocol."
Steam hissed as the locks released, the entire room bathed in a faint golden glow. The other pods remained sealed, but the central pod slowly opened.
Inside—
A woman with long silver hair, intricate Draconic markings on her skin, and an aura of immense power stirred awake.
Her eyes fluttered open, glowing with primal energy.
She gazed at Raizen—her gaze piercing, knowing.
"You… have finally come."
Raizen exhaled, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Well… this just got interesting."