The training chamber inside Outrider Station had once been a command vault — a long rectangular room reinforced with carbon-fiber bracing and lined with durasteel paneling. Kael had repurposed it, layering in high-gravity plates, adjustable terrain holograms, and reactive droids salvaged from an old Separatist cache.
Now, it served a more personal purpose.
He stood at its center in a simple combat tunic, stripped of cloak, armor, and gear.
Only his breath filled the air.
[ MercNet Internal Alert – Revan Protocol Sync at 91% ]Status: Neural Access Stabilized | Memory Index LinkedAbilities Unlocked:– Force Push (Multi-vector)– Mind Trick (Tier I)– Force Sense / Combat Precognition– Drain Vitality (Suppressed – requires dark catalyst)– Saber Form Knowledge: Forms III, IV, and Revan's Dual-Form Hybrid (Passive)– Force Echo (Passive – locked)
Kael closed his eyes.
For the first time since arriving in this galaxy, he stopped holding back.
He let the Force flow.
It came slowly, like heat from coals under windless ash — rising, curling, deep and unseen. Unlike Jedi calm or Sith rage, what Kael tapped into was something centered — forged of Revan's duality, but owned by no side.
He extended a hand.
A shockwave burst forward, knocking a training droid off its stabilizers and sending it crashing into the far wall.
Another droid powered up and charged. Kael sidestepped fluidly — not guessing, but knowing. The thing's blade cut through where he had just stood.
[ Ability Activated: Combat Precognition ]+10% Evasion | +25% Counter Efficiency
Kael turned, flipped, and slammed a Force Push sideways — slamming the droid into the ceiling. It sparked and fell still.
The last droid began to emit a distress siren. Kael raised his hand again.
"Mistake."
[ Ability Activated: Mind Trick – Tier I ]Target Response: Confusion | Directive Override: Cease Action
The droid turned its blaster on itself and powered down with a gentle whirr.
Kael stood amidst the carnage, breathing steady, brow glistening with sweat. His muscles still trembled — not from weakness, but from adjustment. The system was syncing, cell by cell.
[ Revan Protocol Integration: 92% → 94% ]Milestone: Adaptive Body Threshold PassedReflexes Increased | Stamina Pool ExpandedCombat Efficiency Rating: 2.3x IncreaseNext Unlock: Force Phantom (Passive Vision Echo) – Level 17
He inhaled deeply.
"I'm ready."
Elsewhere in the base, Voro monitored long-range comms while Ghost ran diagnostics on the outer perimeter grid. Vox was training Aris in hand-to-hand tactics — using soft blocks and movement drills to build her muscle memory and awareness.
Kael entered quietly and watched for a moment as Aris ducked a slow swing, then countered with a shove that made Vox grunt.
"She's getting better," Vox said without turning.
"She's always been better," Kael replied. "Just needed the right hands to shape it."
That evening, Kael stood alone in the Summon Chamber — a circular stone room carved from a natural cavern, now filled with glowing lines of MercNet circuitry that pulsed like veins across the floor.
[ Summon Token Available – Tier I+ Access Unlocked ]Cross-Universe Candidate Pool Filtered…Synergy Match Analyzing…
Kael watched as names scrolled past his interface.
Kelly-087 (Halo)
Seven of Nine (Star Trek)
Garus Vakarian (Mass Effect)
HK-47 (Star Wars Legends)
Rex Salazar (Generator Rex)
But only one name hovered in bright silver — designated Priority Sync.
[ Match Found: Tier I++ Candidate | Profile: Cortana | Origin: Halo Universe ]Role: AI Tactical Core | Base Integration Module | Cybernetic Warfare | Emotional AnchorLoyalty: 100% (Default – Soulbound Protocol from Summoner Grant)Risk: Requires Dedicated Core Housing (Available – AI Matrix Level 2)Proceed with Summon?
Kael smiled. "Yes."
The chamber dimmed.
Light erupted from the center — a lattice of blue data threads coalescing, forming not just code, but presence. It shimmered into form — a slender feminine figure with glowing circuits and gentle features, eyes sharp and thoughtful.
Her voice was melodic. Curious. Warm.
"So... this isn't the UNSC."
Kael grinned. "Not even close."
Cortana turned, scanning the room instantly. "Subspace integrity... galactic-scale infrastructure… no local AI signatures… but a lot of potential."
She looked at him.
"And you're the one who pulled me here."
"I'm Kael Solaris."
"I know," she said, stepping closer. "You're the anomaly. And I think we're going to have a lot of fun rewriting the rules."
[ Operative Recruited: Cortana (Halo) – Tier I++ Unique AI ]Roles: Tactical Advisor | Intelligence Warfare | Emotional Bond (Soulbound)Base Bonus: +20% System Efficiency | Unlocks Remote Access NetworkAdditional Upgrade Unlocked: AI Core Facility (Under Construction)Current Operatives: 5 / 8MercNet Capacity Upgrade Required for further Summons after next operative
Kael stared at the glowing projection as she stabilized and synced with the base systems.
"Welcome to Outrider Station."
Cortana smiled. "Let's shake things up."
But even as Kael summoned new allies and pushed forward, shadows moved elsewhere in the galaxy.
In a forgotten temple beneath Dathomir's red mists, a Sith acolyte knelt before a cracked obelisk, black tattoos burned into his skin.
A voice whispered from the stone — old, cruel, hungry.
"There is a child… one who stirs the echoes of Tros'Kar… Find her."
The acolyte rose.
Eyes like dying suns.
Back on Tatooine, Aris woke suddenly in the middle of the night.
Sweating. Trembling.
Kael arrived at her side in seconds.
"What is it?"
She looked up at him, eyes wide and terrified.
"I saw… someone. Covered in fire. And they were coming for me."