STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

with the relay’s core. We’re really doing this.

Harun stopped at the first monitor, a small, outdated device embedded into the wall. He pulled a compact toolkit from his belt, fingers working swiftly to dismantle the panel. “This one’s easy,” he muttered, a forced confidence in his voice. “Keep an eye out for anything... unusual.”

Lucien swallowed hard, his eyes darting toward Lyra, who stood at the far end of the corridor, her stance tense, muscles coiled like a spring. She scanned the shadows, every movement deliberate, every breath controlled.

A soft beep signaled the monitor going dark, and Harun grinned, his shoulders easing. “One down. Let’s keep moving.”

The deeper they ventured into the relay, the louder the machinery became —reverberating through the narrow walls. Lucien could feel it beneath his skin, like the structure itself was alive, aware of their intrusion.

Harun disabled another monitor, his movements growing faster, more efficient. The rhythm settled into something almost comfortable. Too comfortable.

Lucien heard a faint chime, distant yet persistent, like an itch beyond reach. He froze, his pulse spiking. “Wait. Do you hear that?”

Harun frowned, pausing mid-motion. “Hear what?”

The chime came again, sharper this time, and Lucien’s stomach twisted. “It’s an alarm. Something triggered it.”

Harun ’s expression darkened as he turned to the wall-mounted panel beside him. “Damn it... This isn’t supposed to be here. It’s not in the schematics.”

Lyra ’s voice was razor-sharp. “Fix it. Now.”

He worked quickly, his hands moving in a blur as he tried to stop the alarm. “This system’s older than I thought—give me a second.”

Lucien shifted uneasily, his breath coming in short bursts. Every second felt stretched too thin.

The chime abruptly ended, leaving behind a hollow silence that felt almost louder than the sound itself. Harun let out the breath he was holding onto, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Alright. We’re good. Let’s move.”

The corridor narrowed as they neared the control room. The air was warmer here, thick with the heat radiating from the relay's core. It smelled of ozone and something deeper, something unnatural.

Harun wiped his forehead with his sleeve, eyes flicking to the overhead cables. “I don’t like this. Feels too quiet.”

Lyra shot him a look, her voice steady. “Stay focused. We’re almost there.”

Lucien followed, his gaze bouncing between the displays and the dark

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