Page 61 of Stars in Nova

She added a shield disruptor device to his chest piece.

‘It emits a focused pulse to disrupt the energy field for a short time without alerting anyone on the other side,’ the AI told him.

‘Good thinking, 99,’ he quipped, referencing an old Earth holo series.

Mirage chuckled. ‘You’re good to go. I’ve modulated its stealth capacity to match the tunnel’s shield frequency, allowing you to pass through it.’

‘Sante.’

He made his way toward the tunnel entrance.

The electric surface shimmered as Kisan approached.

Carved into the jagged rock, its mouth disappeared into shadows framed by the glow of the shield in the dark of night.

The Guardian paused just outside its reach, eyes narrowing as he studied the shimmering veil.

‘Mirage,’ he murmured, his rasp tight with tension. ‘I’m going in. Stay on standby. If I lose contact-’

‘I get it,’ the AI node replied. ‘I’ll monitor from here and maintain the ship’s systems in stealth. Be careful, darling.’

Kisan nodded and tapped the disruptor.

His suit shimmered, matching the shield frequency.

With an inhale, he stepped through.

The energized blockade let him in.

He paused, sighing in relief, as he stood inside the labyrinthine corridors of the Vaelorii’s sanctuary.

The sudden loss of his neural connection was immediate and freakin’ disorienting, leaving him alone in the strange stillness of the cavern.

The tunnels were vast and irregular, their walls carved by natural forces and the deliberate work of Vaelorian hands.

Bioluminescent algae clung to the surfaces, casting the space in a soft green-blue gleam that flickered like candlelight.

Kisan moved with caution, his boots crunching over the uneven floor.

The tunnel ahead branched into multiple passages, each one disappearing into darkness.

He activated his noids, the glow radiating pale as they drifted in front of him like ghostly sentinels.

The corridors twisted and turned, their irregular paths leading the Rider deeper into the subterranean.

He took a left turn, following the traces of nitrogen concentration, but he ended up at a dead end. The passage narrowed to a jagged stone wall, its surface damp and slick.

He cursed and retraced his steps, giving his metanoids a fresh command. They found a new trajectory, their soft green glow illuminating the path as they searched for openings or hidden routes.

Another tunnel led him to a chamber filled with abandoned mining equipment—rusted carts and tools scattered randomlyacross the floor. The air was heavier here, and the scent of rust and decay clung to the interior.

Kisan searched the area, his hands brushing over the corroded metal, but his HUD scans did not show any recent activity or signs of life.

‘This place is a maze,’ he muttered, echoing off the rock partitions.

His metanoids flickered in his peripheral vision, their signals pulling his attention to a narrow route partly concealed by fallen rocks.

The Rider crouched and squeezed through the tight space, wincing as his suit brushed past the jagged edges.

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