Kira's pulse quickened as the Black Nova Syndicate operatives stepped into the chamber, their dark armor reflecting the faint light from the orb. Their movements were deliberate, predatory, like they'd been waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Dax moved instinctively closer to Kira, his body tense and ready. "Looks like we weren't the only ones interested in this artifact," he muttered, his eyes locked on the approaching figures.

The tallest of the three stepped forward, removing his helmet to reveal sharp features and a smirk that didn't reach his eyes. Captain Zarek Morn. Kira had heard of him-infamous in the outer systems, known for leading daring heists and impossible missions, all for the right price. His cold, calculating gaze swept the room before settling on Kira.

"Well, well, well," Zarek drawled, his voice low and dangerous. "The Union sent their best and brightest, I see. Too bad it won't matter. That artifact belongs to us now."

Kira's jaw tightened, her hand subtly moving toward the blade strapped to her thigh. She could feel the gravitational pull of the room subtly shifting again, like the temple itself was reacting to the presence of the artifact. The situation was already fragile-and now, with the Syndicate here, it could shatter in an instant.

"I don't think so," Dax said coolly, stepping forward with a casual confidence that made Kira glance at him, surprised. "We got here first, and we're not leaving without it."

Zarek's smirk deepened. "I admire your confidence, Union boy. But you don't know what you're dealing with. That artifact is far more powerful than your little scanners told you."

"Enough talk," Kira cut in, her voice cold and commanding. She couldn't afford to let this turn into a drawn-out negotiation. "We both know you're not walking away from this without a fight. So let's get this over with."

Zarek chuckled darkly. "I like your spirit. But you're outnumbered."

Before Kira could respond, one of the Syndicate operatives stepped forward, drawing a sleek, high-tech weapon that hummed with energy. The other two followed suit, their stances poised and ready for combat.

Kira glanced at Dax, who gave her a subtle nod. They'd faced worse odds before-but they hadn't faced them together.

"You take the left, I'll handle the right," Kira murmured, her fingers twitching as she prepared to unleash her power.

"Works for me," Dax replied, his eyes glinting with excitement. He was too calm for someone facing off against a band of mercenaries, but Kira couldn't deny that his confidence was infectious.

In a heartbeat, the chamber erupted into chaos.

Kira shot forward, her hand raised as she summoned her gravitational power, sending a pulse of force through the room. The ground beneath the Syndicate operatives buckled as the gravity around them intensified, throwing two of them off balance. Dax moved with her, his hands crackling with energy as he unleashed a burst of pure power, sending one of the operatives skidding across the floor, his weapon clattering to the ground.

But Zarek was fast-too fast. He dodged Kira's gravitational blast with ease, moving like a shadow as he closed the distance between them. His blade flashed out in a sharp arc, aiming for her side. Kira twisted, narrowly avoiding the strike, but Zarek was relentless, pressing forward with a series of rapid, calculated attacks.

Kira gritted her teeth, her mind racing. He's good. Too good.

"Dax!" she shouted, struggling to keep Zarek at bay as he pushed her toward the edge of the chamber.

Dax was already in motion, firing another burst of energy at the remaining operative, who deflected it with a quick twist of his weapon. "Kinda busy here!"

With a surge of effort, Kira pulled at the gravity around her, yanking Zarek backward just enough to give herself some space. She spun, launching herself into the air with a burst of antigravity, landing on a ledge above him. From there, she raised her hands, focusing on the gravitational field of the room.

Zarek's smirk faltered as he felt the shift. Kira pulled harder, and the weight in the chamber doubled, then tripled. The operatives staggered, their movements sluggish as they struggled against the crushing force.

Dax took advantage of the opening, his eyes flashing with focused intensity. He directed a surge of energy toward the remaining operative, hitting him square in the chest. The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Zarek, however, wasn't so easily subdued. He gritted his teeth, eyes blazing with fury as he fought against the increasing gravity. "You think this will stop me?" he growled, pushing through the invisible weight.

"Not for long," Kira replied, her voice strained with the effort of maintaining the field. Zarek was stronger than she'd anticipated, and she couldn't hold the field forever.

Suddenly, with a roar of defiance, Zarek slammed a fist into the ground, sending out a shockwave of energy that disrupted the gravitational field. Kira staggered, the force of the shockwave breaking her concentration. Zarek's power wasn't just physical-he had some kind of energy manipulation ability, too.

Before she could react, Zarek was on her, launching himself up to her ledge with a speed that left her breathless. He grabbed her by the wrist, his grip like iron.

"You've got power, Union girl," he said, his voice a dangerous whisper. "But it's not enough."

Kira's mind raced. She needed to break free, and fast. With a burst of effort, she twisted her wrist, releasing a pulse of gravitational energy that sent Zarek stumbling back just enough for her to slip free.

At the same moment, Dax appeared at her side, his hands glowing with energy. "I've got him."

Kira nodded, falling back to give him space. Dax's hands flashed out, releasing a concentrated beam of energy directly at Zarek. The mercenary barely had time to react before the blast hit him square in the chest, sending him flying across the chamber.

He slammed into the far wall, his body crumpling to the ground. For a long moment, the room was silent, the only sound the faint hum of the artifact on the pedestal.

Dax exhaled slowly, lowering his hands as he turned to Kira. "You alright?"

Kira nodded, breathing heavily. "Yeah. Thanks."

Dax grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. "Told you we'd make a good team."

Kira allowed herself a small smile. "Don't get cocky. We're not done yet."

As if on cue, Zarek groaned, pushing himself to his feet. He was bloodied and battered, but his eyes still burned with determination. "This isn't over," he spat, his voice filled with venom. "You have no idea what you're dealing with. That artifact is more powerful than you can imagine. It will destroy you."

Kira stepped forward, her eyes cold. "Then it's a good thing it's in the right hands."

Zarek glared at them for a moment longer before finally staggering toward the exit, his remaining operative dragging himself up to follow. They'd been defeated-for now-but Kira knew this wouldn't be the last time they crossed paths.

When the mercenaries disappeared into the shadows, Kira turned to Dax, her heart still pounding from the adrenaline. "Let's get the artifact and get out of here before they come back."

Dax nodded, moving toward the pedestal where the orb still shimmered in the dim light. "You know, for a guy who almost got fried, he wasn't wrong."

"About what?" Kira asked, eyeing the orb warily.

Dax's face grew serious as he examined the artifact. "This thing... it's more than just old tech. I can feel the energy coming off of it. It's dangerous."

Kira frowned. Dangerous? The Union had only briefed them on the artifact's ability to stabilize the star, but they hadn't mentioned anything about it being unstable.

"Can we still use it?" she asked, her voice tight.

Dax hesitated, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Yeah... but we'll have to be careful. One wrong move, and it could blow us all to bits."

"Great," Kira muttered, rubbing her temples. This mission just kept getting better.

But even as the weight of responsibility settled on her shoulders, she felt a strange sense of calm. They'd made it this far, and they'd do whatever it took to finish the mission. And despite everything, she couldn't deny that working with Dax-trusting him-felt right.

"We'll figure it out," she said, meeting Dax's gaze.

He smiled, his usual cockiness tempered by a hint of genuine warmth. "Yeah. We will."

Together, they moved toward the artifact, ready to face whatever came next.