Darling's lab was quieter than usual, save for the soft hum of equipment and the occasional beep from one of his consoles. The aftermath of the mission had left him drained, yet he couldn't bring himself to rest. Every analysis, every piece of data, pointed to something far more complex than a simple containment.
"Come on," he muttered, adjusting his glasses and leaning closer to the screen. The readouts flickered with erratic patterns, almost as if the data itself was struggling to remain coherent. "There's something missing… something we didn't see."
A knock on the doorframe startled him. He turned to see Marshall standing there, arms crossed.
"Thought you'd be here," she said. "Figured you'd want an update."
Darling motioned for her to enter. "Please. What's the situation?"
Marshall stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "The containment field is holding, but the energy levels around the Nexus are still fluctuating. It's stable, but only just. The Rangers stationed nearby have reported… oddities."
Darling raised an eyebrow. "Oddities?"
"Shifts in the environment. Small ones, but noticeable. Walls changing texture, objects moving without explanation." She paused, her expression serious. "And one of the Rangers said he heard something—whispering. Like the Plane is trying to talk to us."
Darling frowned, turning back to his console. "That's not unexpected. The Plane has always exhibited reactive properties, but this… this could be a sign that the entity is still active, even within containment."
Marshall leaned against the desk. "You think it's trying to break free?"
"It's possible," Darling admitted. "Or it could be something else entirely. We don't fully understand what we're dealing with yet."
Marshall considered his words carefully. "Trench wants a full report by morning. He's concerned about how the Board might react if things escalate."
Darling sighed. "Of course he is. The Board doesn't like uncertainties." He rubbed his temples, exhaustion creeping in. "I'll have something ready, but Marshall… we need more time. Whatever this is, it's not going to follow our timeline."
Marshall gave a faint nod. "Understood. Just… don't push yourself too hard, Darling. We need you sharp."
As she left, Darling turned back to his work, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on his shoulders. He knew Marshall was right, but he also knew that time wasn't a luxury they had.
Somewhere, deep within the Astral Plane, something stirred. It wasn't anger or malice—it was curiosity. The entity was watching, waiting.
And it wasn't alone.
Darling glanced at the flickering monitor once more, a chill running down his spine. The echoes of the Astral Plane were growing louder.
They had bought themselves time.
But for how long?