The Vault-Arc's coordinates led Kael deep into uncharted space, beyond where even ancient Sith dared map. The route was jagged with spatial distortions, ghost nebulae, and gravity wells that devoured logic.
But the Pattern Ship, Kael's newly christened flagship forged from the salvaged husk of a Mandalorian dreadnought, handled it with terrifying ease.
Powered by the war construct's core from Feron-4 and integrated with Kael's modified tech system, the Pattern Ship pierced reality itself.
Ahead, a dead moon hovered in orbit over a blue giant — and embedded in its crust like a parasite…
Vault-Arc 04-Zeta.
A Door Without a Key
The Vault was colossal — built into the side of a crater, its doors forged from obsidian veined with pulsating crimson lines. Its surface bore a sigil not recognized in any galactic archive.
But Kael knew it.
He had seen it in the databanks of the Ash Algorithm — a symbol of the Construct Ascendancy: a civilization that predated both the Jedi and the Rakata.
A race not born of the Force, but in opposition to it.
System Alert: Locked Vault Detected
Requirement: Conscious Access Code or Core Imprint
Kael stepped forward, extending his palm. From his gauntlet, a shard of the war construct's core emerged, floating. It slotted into a shallow groove in the vault gate.
A low hum vibrated across the moon.
The gate opened.
And with it, a whisper.
"We see you, Kael Dain."
The Echo Mind
The chamber inside was dark — not lightless, but conceptually absent. Tessara-1 waited outside per Kael's order.
He walked alone.
Columns stretched toward a sky that wasn't real. Data floated like smoke. And at the center stood a structure — half-machine, half-monolith — humming with low language.
It spoke directly to Kael's mind.
"You carry the Algorithm. A seed of our legacy."
Kael remained silent.
"You are not of this galaxy's womb. You were rewritten."
"We offer an exchange."
System Notification: The Echo Pact
The Vault-Arc Intelligence offers you a relic interface: the Nexus Heart.
Accepting will:
Unlock Galactic Command Protocols (Empire-wide tech upgrades, mind-links, and offworld troop coordination)
Gain +2 Skill Points and +500 EXP
Grant you the permanent skill: Echo Pulse (Lv.1) — allows command over machines within a 1km radius
But also:
Permanently bind a piece of your mind to the Echo Mind
Risk emotional detachment over time
Mark your soul with an alien algorithm — incompatible with Jedi or Sith traditions
Do you accept the Nexus Heart?
[YES] | [NO]
Kael didn't hesitate.
Yes.
Pain tore through his skull.
Not physical pain — but a reordering.
He fell to one knee.
His vision fractaled into colors the human brain wasn't designed to see.
[You Have Acquired: Nexus Heart Interface]
Permanent Effects Gained:
Empire-Wide Tech Synchronization Protocols Activated
Echo Pulse (Lv.1) — Issue commands to machines and constructs as extensions of your own body
+500 EXP
+2 Skill Points
Kael Level Up: 8 → 9
+5 Stat Points
+1 Skill Point
System Alert: Psychological Flag Triggered
Your soul is now linked to a greater mind. Detachment risk: 3%. This will increase over time.
Do you wish to suppress emotional decay?
[YES] | [NO]
Kael selected No.
He didn't want to suppress it.
He wanted to understand it.
Returning to Reality
Kael emerged from the Vault.
Tessara-1 immediately noticed the change.
"You are… different."
Kael's eyes glowed faintly with silver runes, flickering and pulsing with unfamiliar cadence.
"Get the fleet ready," he said. "We move to the next Vault."
Tessara nodded, and hesitated.
"And when the galaxy finds out what you're doing?"
Kael's voice was soft. Almost distant.
"They won't understand."
He turned toward the stars.
"But they will obey."