The First One stood at the edge of the resistance base, its massive form silhouetted against the rising sun.
Marcus approached slowly, his footsteps silent on the dew-covered grass. The First One had been standing there for hours, its eyes fixed on the horizon, its ancient mind lost in thought.
"Can't sleep?" Marcus asked, his voice soft.
The First One turned its gaze to him, its eyes burning with ancient fire. "I do not sleep, Marcus Cole. Not in the way you understand. My consciousness is eternal, always aware, always watching."
Marcus moved to stand beside it, his eyes following its gaze. "What are you looking at?"
The First One was silent for a long moment. "I am looking at the future. I am seeing the battles that lie ahead. The Architects are defeated, but the Void is still out t
