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“Ikhax,” I replied evenly.
He leaned forward. “Are you finally ready to give me my information?”
I took a deep breath, recalling the scenes from that fateful day — the explosion, the reconnaissance mission, and the discovery of the unknown energy signature.
“After the research facility explosion,” I began, “I requested to be assigned to the reconnaissance mission.”
Ikhax’s eyes sparkled with interest. “And?”
“The facility had a rupture in its core. That much was obvious from the ruins. But the explosion was not merely the result of an unstable core. The plasma residue left behind was unlike anything I had ever seen before,” I explained.
Ikhax raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”
I hesitated for a moment, choosing my words carefully. “There were energy readings… anomalous ones. The readings weren’t from the standard plasma we’re used to dealing with. It was a new kind, glowing an eerie shade of violet.”
Ikhax’s eyes widened a fraction, and I knew I had his attention. “Violet plasma?” he mused. “Interesting. Do you have any samples?”
“No,” I replied curtly. “The recon mission was for gathering information, not materials.”
Ikhax tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought. “Where did this plasma come from? Was it being synthesized in the facility?”
I’d had to think carefully about what I told him. “Yes. It was reportedly a new form of plasma being developed, far more powerful than the plasma we use today. It can be used for faster, deeper space travel, more powerful weapons, and there are even rumors it possesses unique qualities we don’t fully comprehend yet. But most of the facility’s records were destroyed in the explosion and the research has been set back yesrs, maybe even decades.”
He leaned back, studying me with those piercing eyes. “There’s more you’re not telling me.”
I hesitated, my mind wandering to the day I stood among the ruins of the facility, the place where Kuana was supposed to have met his end.
The weight of grief, the overwhelming sadness, the small glimmer of hope that he might still be alive — it was an emotion I didn’t want to relive, especially not in front of Ikhax.
“There was a rumor…” I began.
Ikhax perched two of his hands under his chin. “Go on.”
“That there was a lone survivor. Someone who emerged from the wreckage. We followed every lead we could find but we found no evidence of this survivor.”
Ikhax just looked at me intently.
What I had told him was the truth — although I had opted to not reveal the one piece of information that he would have valued most — that the lone survivor was Kuana.
The weight of Ikhax’s gaze was heavy on me, his eyes studying me intently.
The silence in the room was oppressive, almost stifling.
I found myself fidgeting, my gaze flitting between the worn-out floor and his expectant eyes.
Finally, he leaned back, breaking the tension.
A slow smile spread across his face. “You’ve confirmed everything, Violet,” he said in a low voice, almost a whisper.
I tilted my head, puzzled. “What did I confirm?”
He chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. “The explosion at the facility. I saw it. Or, at least, I thought I did. I saw the bursts of violet plasma moments before the entire place went up in flames. Long streaks that soared into the heavens and an enormous violet bubble of an explosion.”
He paused, taking a deep breath, as if recalling a long-forgotten memory. “I thought I was going mad, thinking I imagined the whole thing. But hearing you describe it… it’s like a missing piece of the puzzle finally falling into place.”
I remained silent, trying to process what he was saying.
Ikhax continued:
