The chamber was dim, lit only by the console's flickering interface.
Toren sat alone, the schematic spinning slowly before him—blue threads and red sigils orbiting a central equation. The Echo Dust Protocol.
Blueprint Status: Suppressed
Application: Force Induction via Microcrystalline Neural DustDelivery: Inhalant or Injected
Risk: Cognitive Overload, Personality Fracture, Bio-Rejection
Project Ethics Rating: RED – Experimental/Forbidden
He scrolled deeper, past the system warnings.
Past the advisory notes from the original Jedi researchers—desperate, brilliant minds trying to force miracles into test tubes.
The implications burned into his thoughts:
If Echo Dust worked, it could awaken the Force in those who had no affinity.
It could give Aurex defenders who could match Sith and Jedi.
It could… change the balance.
Kora's voice interrupted.
"You've accessed this file three times. You haven't flagged it for deletion."
"I'm not ready," he said quietly.
"You're not qualified."
Toren's jaw tensed.
"This tech was sealed by a dead order. You'd risk your people for a power they never perfected."
"I wouldn't risk them," he said, eyes narrowing. "I'd take it first."
The system went silent.
Then—behind him—footsteps.
He turned.
Mira stood in the doorway, arms folded, face unreadable.
"I was looking for you."
Toren didn't move.
She stepped closer.
Her voice was lower now.
"Tell me you're not thinking of using it."
He looked down at the glowing schematic.
Then back at her.
"…I'm thinking about what it would mean if I did."
They stared at each other in the soft, humming dark.
And neither broke the silence.