the starborn legacy

Liora's hand trembled as she withdrew it from the crystalline sphere, but the image of Kyren Jhal remained, his presence commanding yet somehow comforting. Kade edged closer, his hand hovering near his blaster.

"You're… a hologram?" Liora ventured, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Kyren Jhal's image tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "I am a fragment of consciousness, preserved within this ship's core. The Guardians anticipated a time when the Starborn's legacy would falter. I am here to guide the one destined to restore it."

Kade snorted. "Convenient. And what makes you so sure she's 'destined'?"

Kyren's piercing gaze fell on Kade. "The mark she bears—the Luminal Sigil—is no coincidence. It awakens only for those bound by the stars' will."

Liora glanced at her hand, the faintly glowing symbol still visible. She wanted to protest, to say this wasn't her fight, but the weight of the moment held her tongue. "What do you mean 'restore'? What exactly am I supposed to do?"

"The Shade Emperor's dominion grows," Kyren replied. "His forces seek to drain the energy of dying stars, severing the Starborn's ancient bond. The Obsidian Throne moves toward the Celestial Nexus—a convergence of power capable of unmaking existence itself."

Kade threw up his hands. "Great. So no pressure, right?"

Liora ignored him, her focus locked on Kyren. "How am I supposed to stop that? I barely escaped with my life today!"

"Your powers are nascent," Kyren said. "But the energy coursing through you is older than this galaxy. This ship contains the means to unlock your potential and summon the other Starborn remnants."

"Other Starborn?" Liora echoed, a spark of hope igniting within her.

"Yes," Kyren confirmed. "Scattered across the stars, hidden or enslaved by the Empire. Together, you can challenge the Shade Emperor. But the first step lies here—activating the Awakening Beacon."

Before Liora could respond, the ship groaned ominously, its structure protesting their presence. The flickering lights dimmed, and a series of low thuds echoed through the hull.

Kade pulled his blaster. "What was that?"

Kyren's image flickered, his voice uncharacteristically strained. "The ship's defenses are compromised. Intruders approach."

As if on cue, the airlock hissed, and heavy footsteps reverberated down the corridor. Liora's pulse quickened. "Imperial soldiers?"

"More likely scavengers," Kade muttered, checking his blaster's charge. "Either way, they're not here to help."

Kyren gestured toward a panel on the wall, its edges glowing faintly. "The beacon must be activated before the ship's core collapses. I can guide you, but time is short."

Liora hesitated, the weight of responsibility pressing down on her. "What happens if we fail?"

"The galaxy falls to darkness," Kyren said simply.

"No pressure," Kade muttered again, his sarcasm doing little to mask his nerves.

"Fine," Liora said, steeling herself. "Tell me what to do."

Kyren's hologram moved toward the panel, the symbols on it rearranging into a pattern Liora instinctively recognized. "You must place your hand here. The Sigil will synchronize with the ship's core, transmitting a pulse across the galaxy. But be warned—the activation will draw unwanted attention."

"Great," Kade said. "Because we weren't already drowning in that."

The footsteps grew louder, accompanied by the hiss of a cutting torch at the airlock. Liora's heart pounded as she approached the panel, her fingers brushing the glowing symbols. Energy surged through her again, stronger this time, as if the ship itself was responding to her presence.

The Sigil on her hand flared brightly, and the ship's systems roared to life. Lights flooded the chamber, and a deep hum resonated through the walls.

"Beacon activation in progress," Kyren announced. "You must hold steady."

The airlock burst open, and a group of armored figures stormed in, their weapons trained on Liora and Kade.

"Stop them!" a gruff voice barked.

Kade didn't need to be told twice. He ducked behind a console and opened fire, his blaster bolts ricocheting off the intruders' armor. Liora clenched her teeth, focusing on the panel as the ship trembled under the strain of the activation process.

"You've got this," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the chaos.

One of the intruders broke away from the group, charging toward her. Kade's shot caught him in the shoulder, but another took his place, raising a stun baton.

"Liora, move!" Kade shouted, but she couldn't. The beacon required her full concentration, and her connection to the ship deepened with each passing second.

Just as the attacker closed in, a burst of light erupted from Liora's outstretched hand, sending him flying. She gasped, staring at her palm in shock.

"Your powers awaken," Kyren said, his voice steady despite the tumult around them. "You are stronger than you know."

The beacon's hum reached a crescendo, and a blinding pulse of energy radiated from the ship, spreading out into the nebula. The attackers faltered, their systems disrupted by the surge.

"It is done," Kyren said. "The Starborn remnants will hear the call. But your journey is only beginning."

Liora stumbled back from the panel, her vision swimming. Kade caught her just as the derelict ship's systems began to fail.

"Time to go!" he urged, dragging her toward the airlock.

As they boarded their battered shuttle, the derelict ship behind them erupted in a spectacular blaze, its energy scattering into the nebula like a dying star.

Liora stared out the viewport, her mind racing. The Awakening Beacon was lit, but the weight of what came next loomed heavy on her shoulders.

"One step at a time," she whispered, her resolve hardening. "One step at a time."