The Eternal Pavilion loomed above the sprawling planet of Serathis—a colossus of black obsidian fused with plasma-glass veins that shimmered like flowing magma. It had been dormant for millennia, sealed within the crust of a rogue planet adrift beyond the edges of any known hyperspace lane. Now, it had awakened.
Rael stood on the deck of the Starflare's End, his flagship, as the vast construct filled the viewport. The bridge crew was silent, awestruck by the sheer size and antiquity of the structure.
"Scan it again," Rael ordered, voice calm but tight with anticipation.
The AI assistant, Ava, responded with a pulse of blue light. "No signs of active power grids, but the core reactor is online. Faint energy readings—ancient, but stable."
Rael folded his arms. "It's not just stable. It's waiting."
