The massive mother ship moved slowly and steadily toward the yawning mouth of the black hole. Outside the reinforced viewpanels of the command center, the swirling vortex loomed larger with each passing moment. It was like watching the universe hold its breath—the edge of space itself seeming to stretch and bend as the gravitational monster pulled at light and matter alike. The stars nearby shimmered and warped unnaturally. Everything about the scene was both majestic and terrifying.
Dican sat silently in the command chair, his hands neatly folded over his lap, but his eyes betrayed the turmoil swirling within. Notification chimes kept flickering on his interface screen, each one marked with the insignia of his elder brother. Another call. Another demand.
But Bian, sitting beside him with a languid, unreadable look, simply gestured at the screen with a flick of his hand.
"Reject it," he said flatly.
