The stars were returning.
Alex stood on the ridge overlooking the facility, watching the night sky slowly come back to life. One by one, the constellations were reappearing, their light piercing through the darkness that had consumed them.
"The Ancient is here," he said.
Sebastian appeared beside him. "How do you know?"
Alex shook his head. "I can feel it. It's like... a presence at the edge of my consciousness. Older than the First. Older than the Source. Older than everything."
Sebastian was silent for a long moment. Then he said, "What does it want?"
Alex turned to face him. "I don't know. But I'm going to find out."
The message came that night.
Alex was in his quarters, meditating, when the air began to shimmer. A figure emerged from the shadows. Tall. Regal. His body shifting
