The silence that followed the destruction of Earth wasn't peace, it was something heavier, thicker. Like a blanket of ash settling over the 2nd Universe. The Power Source, that ancient relic of untold energy, had finally awakened after centuries of dormancy. It had been hidden, guarded, protected by the Galactic Federation since the birth of Federations. But now... it was gone. Not destroyed, as many believed. Worse,unseen. Unaccounted for. And no one knew what it truly was.
What remained was fear. Not just of the Power Source... but of what its awakening had triggered.
Two months passed since the day Borarah's army broke through the Federation's mighty gates. The battlefield had grown cold, but the political war was just beginning.
Inside the Galactic Federation's headquarters, a towering arc-shaped structure orbiting the planet Lysara tension buzzed like static. Not the tension of soldiers preparing for war, but of leaders sharpening their tongues. The war council chamber, once reserved for strategy and defense, had been converted into a battlefield of blame and ambition.
Dozens of political figures of individual planet filled the room, their voices rising like wildfire.its surface cracking, oceans boiling, cities disintegrating in a flash of white light.
Where was the Federation?"
One politician, a thick necked Orshan male with tusks curled tight and eyes burning slammed his fist into the glowing podium.
"Eight billion humans! One billion tiger-folk! Dozens of hybrid species wiped out in a blink! And why? Because the Galactic Federation, our protectors Failed!"
The room erupted in chaos. Some clapped. Others shouted over each other, feeding the frenzy. On the massive viewscreen above them, the words blinked in rotating loops.
Justice for Earth,
The irony, Skye thought bitterly from the sidelines, was staggering. Just a year ago, these same voices had roared Kaizu's name in triumph. He had led the 2nd Universe through its darkest hours, six times standing against Borarah's endless assaults, six times driving him back. No other leader had survived one encounter with the revolutionary warlord.
But now? Now one loss made him a villain.
The 2nd Universe, once mocked by outsiders as "The Place of Chaos," had slowly become a beacon of strength under Kaizu's rule. Crime had dropped, piracy routes were shut down, planetary disputes resolved. People had finally begun to feel safe.
Until Earth vanished.
Now, that old chaos had returned not from Borarah's army but from the inside. From fear. From blame.
In the center of the Galactic Federation, floating within a reinforced medical pod, lay Kaizu himself. Still unconscious. Still healing. His body, exposed briefly through transparent plates, was wrapped in healing foam and quantum bandages. His face looked peaceful, untouched by the storm surrounding him.
But outside his glass tomb, his enemies circled like vultures.
Another politician a younger human woman in a bright red uniform stepped forward. Her voice was calm, cold, and practiced.
"Which is exactly the problem. Kaizu's silence is as dangerous as his leadership. Earth is gone. Billions are dead. And we've had no answers only excuses.
Commander Skye, standing at the back of the room, clenched her fist. Her left arm was still in a sling, ribs fractured from Borarah's brutal strike during the final battle. But she had dragged herself into this hearing, fury burning in her chest.
"He fought Borarah bare handed," she growled through gritted teeth,
"to protect you. He risked his life to seal the Power Source. You wouldn't exist if it weren't for him."
The chamber quieted for a moment. Some turned to look at her, unsure if they were supposed to listen. Others rolled their eyes.
Then came the voice that silenced even Skye.
A long, cold hiss.
From the upper balcony, a serpentine figure slithered into view, Silex Varuun, the Speaker of the Core Worlds. A Sythiran diplomat known for his silver tongue and ruthless rise through Federation politics. His robes glimmered like oil, and his black eyes blinked slowly, unimpressed.
"And yet…" he said softly, letting the pause sting,
"Earth is gone. And no battle, no act of bravery, erases numbers. One loss one planetary failure wiped out more lives than all of Borarah's campaigns combined."
Gasps followed, then applause. Skye's stomach twisted.
She wasn't alone in her rage. General Cracky, watching from a secure stream, shut off his monitor before he broke it. But he couldn't stop what came next.
Silex raised a hand, signaling a group of younger politicians gathered near the edge of the council floor. They nodded, stepping forward.
"We now propose a formal motion," the lead youth announced, her voice filled with zeal. "Effective immediately, we move to dissolve the Federation's military wing. All planetary defenses will be returned to their respective homeworlds."
Gasps echoed.
"And," she added, raising her voice to overcome the noise,
"we move to arrest Kaizu for criminal negligence upon waking. His leadership has endangered the entire Eternity. He must face consequences."
Skye staggered back, stunned.
"Arrest… Kaizu?"
The word felt unreal. Like hearing the sun would be put on trial for burning too brightly.
The council was collapsing. The 2nd Universe was unraveling.
And far away, beyond scanners,
beyond sensors, something ancient still drifted through the void, silent, glowing… and very much alive.
The Power Source was not destroyed.
It was watching, and waiting