The silence in the control room was absolute.
Daniel stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the spot where Victor had been standing moments before. The dark energy had surged through him, filling him with its ancient power. And then he had let go.
And now he was gone.
"Victor!" Daniel's voice echoed through the empty room, raw with desperation. "Victor, where are you?"
No answer. Just the silence, pressing in from all sides.
The First One moved to his side, its massive body wreathed in ethereal light. "He is gone, Daniel. He sacrificed himself to contain the dark energy. We must honor his sacrifice."
Daniel turned to face it, his eyes blazing with fury. "Honor his sacrifice? He's dead! Evelyn is dead! Marcus is dead! They're all dead!"
The First One was silent for a long moment. "I know. A
