The Vault-Arc 03-Kappa was buried beneath a dead ocean on an uncharted world. No name. No civilization. Only sonar echoes through liquid blackness, revealing the submerged entry gate like a buried tomb.
The Pattern Ship remained in high orbit. Tessara-1 led a submersible team. Kael traveled alone — he wanted no witnesses to what lay beneath.
There was a reason this Vault hadn't awakened itself.
It was hiding something.
The Descent
Kael stood within a sealed pressure pod as it descended nearly 40,000 meters. The light above died after the first kilometer. Only internal illumination and his augmented HUD guided him.
"Echo Pulse status: Active."
"Environmental hazard: Zero. Vault shield is functioning."
"Stray signal detected."
The signal wasn't random. It was calling to him.
Not in words.
But in a feeling.
A memory that wasn't his.
Vault Interior: Containment Grid 7
The Vault interior was less decayed than Zeta. Kael moved through still-lit corridors, their walls pulsating with faint organic circuitry.
A chamber opened like a blooming flower — and inside:
A massive sarcophagus, suspended mid-air.
Encased in crystal.
A humanoid inside. Female. Tall. Pale. Clad in asymmetrical armor of obsidian and gold.
Vitals: Stable.
Estimated age: 12,000+ years.
System Alert: Survivor Detected
Subject: Iralith Vex
Species: Ascendancy-variant human (bio-engineered)
Condition: Cryo-stasis lock
Brain Activity: Low. Consciousness fragmented.
Potential Threat: High.
Status: Unknown Allegiance
Suggested Action: Extract and contain.
Echo Mind Interjection:
"She was one of our generals. Her mind holds protocols we lost."
"But she is not ours anymore."
"She defected."
Kael approached the pod.
"What did she become?"
Echo Mind:
"A creature who worshipped the Force."
The Guardian
The room shook.
A shadow detached from the wall — a guardian unit, spider-like in form, half-machine, half-bone. Unlike the docile Vault constructs from before, this one was sentient.
"Unauthorized presence," it hissed. "Subject Iralith is not to be disturbed."
Its body split open — plasma channels activating, ancient weapons humming to life.
Kael activated Echo Pulse.
Combat Engaged: Vault Guardian - Omen Class
Boss Encounter Triggered
HP: 6,000
Armor: Echo-Reinforced Bone
Weakness: Signal Disruption
Kael's mind lashed out — not through the Force, but through data. He sent corrupted command strings into the Guardian's spine. Its limbs twitched — but resisted.
The guardian struck with devastating kinetic bursts, nearly tearing Kael's right gauntlet apart.
But he endured.
And retaliated.
System Alert: Critical Strike — Exploit Access Port
Kael forced his Echo Pulse through a structural gap in the guardian's core. The machine convulsed, screeched, and exploded in a brilliant flash of grey light.
Victory.
+800 EXP
+1 Skill Point
New Skill Registered: Signal Burn (Lv. 1) — Forces mechanical enemies to overheat or malfunction for 3 seconds
Vault Core Unlocked
Revival
Kael approached the stasis pod. With a thought, the crystal layers began to melt away.
The woman's eyes opened.
Pale gold irises.
She blinked once.
Then again.
"…you're not one of us," she said in a whisper that sounded like it was coming through layers of history.
Kael met her gaze.
"And you're not dead."
System Alert: Unique NPC Awakened
Name: Iralith Vex
Role: Fallen General of the Ascendancy
Traits: Partial Force Sensitivity, Echo-Machine Compatibility, High Tactical Intelligence
Status: Unstable Mind | Memory Loss (57%) | Temporary Neutrality
Do you wish to recruit Iralith Vex as a temporary asset?
Kael: [YES]
On Coruscant…
In the Jedi Temple, Master Mace Windu stood silently in the Hall of First Knowledge.
He had felt it.
Twice now.
Not a presence… but the absence of one.
A blank spot in the Force, moving like a ghost across the stars.
He turned to Master Yoda.
"Something has shifted," Windu said.
Yoda nodded slowly.
"A shadow with no shape. Deeper than Sith… older than Jedi."
"Soon, the galaxy… will remember what it has forgotten."