17:49, January 3rd, 2135

A set of heavy metal doors sealed behind them with a clang, separating Elara and Kayden from the guards in the lobby they’d emerged into. During the long ride down Elara was uncharacteristically silent, but he chose not to press the issue. Instead, he busied himself with mentally replaying the conversation with the president, looking for any way that it could have gone better.

“Finally.” She said, turning to him. “Those elevators are monitored, and I wanted to say something to you in private.”

“No cameras in here, huh?” Kayden asked, glancing around the metallic grey box of a room.

“No, it’d be seen as desecrating a religious artifact to put cameras in here.” She replied quickly.

Raising one eyebrow, he decided to focus on the issue at hand. “What’s on your mind?”

“In the council chamber, the president wanted you captured. You used your nanobot swarm to armour both Dawn and me.”

“Yeah.” Kayden nodded, brow furrowed in confusion. “I’ve done that before for both of you, lots of times.”

Elara shook her head. “I don’t think you understand. The president ordered me to capture you, and your first instinct was to protect me. Did the thought that I might follow her orders and betray you ever cross your mind?”

“No.” Kayden shaking his head instantly. “Never. I trust you completely, just like I would any of my women.”

Her shining blue eyes locked onto his. “I…that means more than you know. And you’re right, I’d never betray you. I just needed you to know that.”

He took her hands in his as he moved close to her. “I know. And I know we haven’t been physically intimate yet, but I want you to know you’re my woman and I’m your man in every other way that matters.”

Her face broke into a wide smile at his words. “You said ‘yet’. Like you’re absolutely sure it’ll happen eventually.”

“I meant what I said.” Kayden said, not backing down from his words.

His hands slid around her hips and his lips brushed softly against hers before the other large metal door hissed and began to swing open. Groaning slightly at the realization they had a job to do, they reluctantly broke their kiss and turned towards the slowly-opening door. As they waited for it to open fully Kayden voiced the other question on his mind.

“Back in the council chamber…the being that was sort of an amorphous blob, was that…”

“A pure Kel, yes.” Elara confirmed. “And to answer your question before you ask it – yes, that’s what I looked like before we met. All pure Kel are born looking like that. It’s likely that Vrul look like some version of that too, but again – we haven’t seen one outside their suits in a very long time, so there’s no way to know.”

“What about non-pure Kel? Ones that mate with other species? Do they come out looking like that?”

“They tend to look more like their fathers. They still retain the ability to change of course, but it takes more exposure than with a pure Kel.” She replied tersely.

Sensing her defensiveness he squeezed her reassuringly. “We’re not at the point where we’re ready to have the ‘baby making’ conversation, but when we are I want you to know that I’ll love them no matter what they come out looking like.”

Her shoulders slumped and her smile returned to her face as he said it. Seeing that the door was now fully open he decided to change the topic. “So what exactly are we doing here?” Kayden asked. “And what’s with all the security?”

“You’ll see.” Elara grinned mischievously as they passed through the second set of heavy metal doors.

When they stepped into the semi-darkened room beyond, the door behind them sealed itself shut with a beep. There was a moment of silence before a set of overhead lights flickered to life, casting the large metallic room in a white hue. As Kayden’s eyes adjusted to the light he saw that the room was enormous – large enough to fit the Broken Shackle and then some. To both sides there were further sets of even larger doors, both of which were sealed and featured ornate-looking insignia over top. All around him in protective glass casings were strange, ancient looking objects.

“Welcome to the vault.” Elara said, turning around and spreading her arms.

Kayden’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “This is where your people hid in cryosleep for millions of years?”

“Well, not this room specifically.” Elara replied before pointing towards one of the doors. “That door leads to the Kel cryosleep chambers, and the other one leads to the Vrul ones. This is just the entryway.”

“That explains why the elevator took so long to get down here.” Kayden said, nodding. “We must be very deep underground.”

“Almost 20 kilometers underground, to be exact.” She replied before shaking her head. “And our president wants to hide here, as if they’re not going to notice that we built our capitol building right on top of it.”

“In fairness, when your people woke up millions of years after the war, they weren’t exactly expecting the Voidborn to come back to haunt you.” Kayden said, laying a reassuring hand on her hip. “And we’re not going to hide. We’re going to fight and win.”

“Right.” Elara said, steeling herself. “Come on. There’s a workstation at the back with access to whatever records survived – maybe we can find something to inspire our leaders to defend Earth.”

“And find any patterns in their attacks too.” Kayden added. “Remember, we still need to find that facility.”

Nodding, Elara led him through the room. As they walked Kayden’s eyes flicked back and forth to the various displays around him – ones that featured everything from strange metallic devices to even stranger looking statues. Seeing the look on his face Elara began to explain.

“On this side of the room are religious artifacts from the Holy Kel-Azaan Empire.” She said, pointing.

“I’m surprised they’re not in a temple or something.” Kayden said. “Aren’t most Kel religious?”

“Yes, but these artifacts are far too old and valuable to be exposed to the general public. Besides, most people are okay with replicas – it’s generally accepted that the goddess hears our prayers regardless of what artifacts we use during our ceremonies.”

“In other words, it’s the thought that counts.” Kayden nodded.

“Exactly.” She replied.

Kayden paused for a moment before broaching a potentially awkward topic. “Do…I have to convert to your religion to be with you romantically? If so, we should talk about that before we go any further.”

“Not at all.” She smiled in return. “The goddess teaches us to love others as they are, regardless of if they believe in her or not.”

“Good.” Kayden nodded. “Because that’s a sticking point for a lot of human couples, and I’m not comfortable with the idea that some higher power is in control of my life, pulling all the strings. I don’t like the idea that the future is already decided.” He paused for a moment. “Sorry. I don’t mean to insult your faith in any way. I’m not saying there isn’t a higher power, just that I’d need a lot of convincing that there is.”

She giggled in reply. “That’s funny. To me, you’re the one who has reinforced my faith far more than anything I’ve experienced in my life.”

He raised one eyebrow. “How so?”

“Just before the Voidborn came back, you appeared. You saved my life, then led the defense of Arcadia – saving millions more lives. Now you’re embarking on a quest to save humanity, the Kel, and the Vrul alike.” She grinned. “If that’s not divine intervention, I’m not sure what is.”

He shook his head. “I had a lot of help with all those things.”

“Sure, but they wouldn’t have happened if not for you.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “We don’t have to agree. Just think about it.”

“Okay.” He responded. “As long as it doesn’t come between us.”

“Never.” She promised. “Now, do you want to know more about the vault?”

“Yes please!”

“Well, over there the Kel kept a zoo worth of animals in cryosleep, but they all died when the power started to fail and the safeguards kicked in. We still have their genetic records, and in the last few years there’s been efforts to clone them and bring them back to life.” She paused for a moment before gesturing to the other side of the room. “Over there are artifacts from the Vrul. According to our scientists a lot of them are designs for cybernetic implants, robots, and droids.”

“I’m surprised they didn’t try to save their AI companions.” Kayden said, thinking of Ali.

“Oh, they did.” Elara replied. “But they were automatically decommissioned as the power failed, just like the animals’ cryosleep.”

We would never do that to you. Kayden ‘said’ to Ali over their neural link, feeling her pang of sadness at Elara’s words.

[“I know.”] She replied. [“Though it appears I am the last of my kind.”]

Not the last. The first. There may have been AI’s before this, but you are more than what they were. You’re unique.

He ‘felt’ her blush at his words. [“Thank you.”]

Refocusing on the conversation with Elara, Kayden nodded ahead of them. “If one side has the Vrul artifacts and the other has the Kel artifacts, are the ones in the middle supposed to represent Synthesis?”

Elara beamed at him. “You catch on quick.”

“The binary-helix sculpture made of circuit boards kinda gave it away.” Kayden said with a chuckle, pointing towards the small DNA-like structure next to the workstation ahead of them.

“Oh! I almost forgot – that’s supposed to be for you!” Elara replied.

“Sorry, what?”

“The old texts specifically mention that this structure should be given to the Asha’dara. It’s meant to represent the harmonious unity between technology and biology. Technically there’s supposed to be a ceremony where it’s formally gifted to you, but with everything going on I don’t think that’s going to happen for awhile.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“So I shouldn’t just walk out of here with it then?” Kayden asked teasingly.

“No, you shouldn’t just walk out of here with the Key to Synthesis.” Elara replied with a grin while rolling her eyes.

“The Key to Synthesis?” Kayden asked as she sat at the workstation and began logging in.

“That’s the sculpture’s name. Besides, where would you even put it?”

“I don’t know, I was thinking in the bedroom.” Kayden said, moving closer to the glass case. “Though I’m pretty sure Anna would try to use it for sex if we did that, so maybe that’s not the best-”

[“Kayden. I am detecting a faint power source from within that structure.”]

“Huh.” Kayden said out loud.

“What?”

“Ali says she’s detecting a power source from within this thing.”

“It’s probably just the automated security systems.”

[“It is not. This signature is distinct from the surrounding security systems. It is coming from the structure itself.”]

“Ali says she’s sure it’s coming from the structure.” Kayden said, leaning closer to the glass.

His eyes narrowed as he looked at the structure for a few moments, tilting his head in either direction to watch the way the light reflected off the circuit boards. Either due to his fatigue from the long day or from some trick of the light, the strands seemed to writhe and move on their own as he did. When he blinked several times the movement seemed to stop, but his eyes went wide with realization.

“Elara, is this thing is made of nanobots?”

“Yes. It was made by Kel and Vrul working together, and the Vrul used nanobots quite extensively.”

[“It is incomplete.”]

What?

[“I have completed an analysis of the structure itself. While I am unsure of the being the DNA is supposed to represent, I can tell you that the 3rd nitrogenous base from the top is missing cytosine, the sugar phosphate backbone is missing below the 7th rung, and-”]

Okay, okay. I get it, it’s missing pieces. Kayden replied before relaying the same message to Elara, adding his own question. “Could that have been an artistic choice on behalf of the Kel?”

“We always assumed it was.” Elara furrowed her brow. “Where are you going with this?”

[“There is more here than meets the eye. I believe these nanobots are holding in place rather than truly bonded to one another. They are waiting for an instruction.”]

Kayden began deploying his own nanobot swarm around the glass casing before Elara’s eyes went wide. “What are you doing?” She asked hesitantly.

“I have a hunch.” Kayden replied, sending his swarm to surround the wire-laden bottom section of the case. “Don’t worry – I promise to put it back the way I found it if I’m wrong.”

“Whenever you say ‘don’t worry’, I worry more.” She said, crossing her arms.

With a grin Kayden send a jolt of electricity through his swarm, frying the security systems. Knowing he wouldn’t have long until someone came to investigate he used his nanobots to cut a microscopic line all around the glass before wrapping his arms around it and lifting it over the small sculpture. He carefully placed it down next to the display before turning back to it, reaching out to it hesitantly.

“Now what?” Elara asked.

“I don’t know.” Kayden said, brushing his fingers against the cool metal lightly. “I thought that maybe-ow!”

“What’s wrong?”

“It…bit me.” Kayden said lamely, examining the droplet of blood his finger. “I’m bleeding a little.”

“Should I call a doctor?” Elara asked.

“No, I just…wait, it’s moving!” Kayden said, pointing towards the display.

Before them, the nanobots writhed and moved. Blood-tinged links formed in the missing sections, completing the previously-missing DNA strands. The double helix then began to spin, rising off the ground before darting towards a nearby wall and embedding into it.

“Has that ever happened before?” Kayden asked.

“Never.” Elara shook her head urgently.

He was about to ask a follow-up question but stopped when a section of the wall began to glow brightly. The two of them watched dumbfounded as it faded to reveal a set of doors – ones that slid open smoothly to expose the hidden chamber beyond. There was a brief moment of silence before a hollow metallic clanging sound rang out from the vault doors behind them.

“Elara? What the hell just happened?” Kayden asked.

She leapt towards the workstation and frantically began pressing buttons before looking up at Kayden, the color drained from her face. “The vault has just sealed itself.”

“I could probably use my nanobots to tunnel us a hole through that door.” Kayden offered, pointing behind them.

“What about the elevator shaft though? It’s locked down too, and it’s almost 20 kilometers tall.”

“Fair.” Kayden nodded.

[“I can arrange for an orbital strike to blast open the vaults.”] Ali offered.

I… don’t think that’s a good idea. Kayden replied. That would involve destroying the governmental buildings above, which might not endear ourselves to the Kel government we’re trying to win over.

[“A wise point.”]

“Think the Kel on the surface would be willing to help us?” Kayden asked Elara.

“Probably. Though I’d maybe avoid asking the president or making the request via the official channels. The president is probably going to find some way to use this against us.”

[“The crew and I will work together to get it done.”] Ali ‘said’ confidently.

“I think we’re stuck here at least for the short term.” Kayden replied to Elara after relaying Ali’s message. “We should look at that room while we’re here though.”

A wide grin spread across her face. “I was beginning to think you’d never ask. You have no idea how big a deal this could be to my people. There could be more information about our history there, just waiting to be uncovered!”

Chuckling at her enthusiasm, Kayden took her hand and they walked towards the newly opened door. “How is it that nobody has ever discovered this room before?”

“It must have been shielded and hidden from scanners – this area has been thoroughly searched and documented as archaeological sites go.” Elara reasoned as they neared.

“Sure, but it’s a bit on-the-nose though, isn’t it?” Kayden teased. “I mean, that statue was called the literal ‘Key to Synthesis’.”

“We thought it was meant to be metaphorical!” She protested before hip-checking him.

Kayden watched her for a moment before grinning stupidly. The fact that she was so willing to contradict him while being playful about it meant that they’d successfully broken through the last major barrier to them having a serious relationship. She no longer saw him as the fabled Asha’dara – instead, she saw him for who he really was: a flawed human man. Moreover, based on the way she was practically bouncing when they entered the new room, she felt safe enough to be her truest self around him.

Tearing his eyes away from her for a moment, Kayden glanced around the small room. Unlike the vault, the walls, ceiling, and floor were made some of sort of black substance with the consistency of concrete. Ahead of them was a screen embedded into the wall, along with a simple input port with a control cable hanging down. As they neared it he saw the same mechanical double-helix insignia embedded into the wall above the control port itself.

“I guess they want me to plug in.” Kayden said softly.

“The last time you plugged into a mystery computer you met the Voidborn Queen.” Elara warned him. “And the time before that you had to fight a Vrul Executor.”

“Sure, but I don’t think that’s very likely this time.” Kayden countered. “Look – they gave explicit instructions to give the sculpture to the one who achieves Synthesis, right? That means they wanted that person to find this room.”

“Sure, but-” Elara started.

“And both the ancient Kel and the ancient Vrul both wanted their people to achieve Synthesis, so that their descendants could come together.” Kayden interjected.

“Yes, but-”

“So I really don’t think this is all some elaborate trap. Maybe there’s some technology or knowledge that only someone who’s achieved Synthesis can use. If anything, the discovery alone might be the thing that gives us the leverage we need with the president to convince her to help us! But that’s only if we know what we’re dealing with.”

“Kayden, stop.” Elara said, pressing one hand against his chest. “You’re…not wrong. About any of it. It’s just that…these artifacts, this vault…it’s incredibly old. We don’t know if it’s supposed to function this way or if it’s been damaged and we’re just reading into it.”

“Where was all that excitement about finding something new about your people’s ancient vault?” Kayden asked teasingly.

“It evaporated when I realized it might end up hurting my man.” She replied seriously.

He paused for a moment, meeting her eyes. “Do you think I shouldn’t plug in? I trust your opinion, and I don’t want to put you through any unnecessary pain.”

She bit her lip in thought, exhaling deeply before shaking her head. “No. I think you’re right. The insignia is right there, it’s obvious what they want you to do. This is war, we need to take risks. Just…be careful, okay? We don’t know what will happen.”

He leaned forward and kissed her deeply, wrapping his arms around her for a moment. “I promise to be careful.”

“Good.” She said, nodding. “I’ll keep watch over you while you plug in.”

Sitting and leaning against the wall, Kayden pulled the hanging control cable towards him. He then extended his own control cable from his arm, pausing for a moment before joining the two ends.

Then, predictably, his body was wracked with pain.