Chapter 6: The Price of the Ripple (Part 1)
The Stargate Corporation's "New Dawn" project countdown had begun. A massive, concentrated beam of energy slowly converged from the eight main Stargate hubs in the solar system. It was a magnificent yet unnerving sight—the energy flow created a vast, visible light grid in the cosmos, enveloping the entire solar system. Aaron, Lilith, and Evelyn led the members of the "Children of the Ash," splitting into multiple teams to infiltrate the eight Stargate hubs. Their goal was not to destroy, but to precisely guide a "counter-ripple" that would neutralize the Stargate Corporation's transmission wave.
Chapter 6: The Price of the Ripple (Part 2)
Aaron personally took charge of the Stargate hub on Earth. Its security was the tightest of all, and he knew Cullen would most likely be waiting for him here. Aaron had no time to hesitate. He used his spatial sense to weave through the dense energy lines, like a ghost flying through a colossal maze. He arrived at the hub's core control room, where the defenses were surprisingly weak. He knew the Stargate Corporation's arrogance had led them to underestimate the power of the surface dwellers; they never thought anyone could penetrate this far.
Chapter 6: The Price of the Ripple (Part 3)
Just as Aaron was about to set up the interference device, a cold voice came from behind him: "I knew you'd come here." It was Cullen. He didn't hold an energy gun, and there was no killing intent in his eyes. He just stood there, looking at Aaron calmly, his face expressionless. "They told me to stop you, but they didn't say I had to kill you," Cullen said. "Just leave. Before I change my mind." Aaron didn't respond. He knew Cullen was in the midst of an internal struggle, but he couldn't stop. "Your father's research wasn't just about ripples; it held a deeper secret," Cullen's voice was low and urgent. "Your father discovered that ripples aren't a byproduct of transmission. They're an inherent cosmic phenomenon, merely activated by transmission. He was trying to find a way to coexist with them, not to control them."
Chapter 6: The Price of the Ripple (Part 4)
Cullen's words hit Aaron like a physical blow, and his hand froze on the device. His understanding of the situation was fundamentally shifting. He had always believed his father's research was about fighting the ripples, but Cullen's words gave him a new perspective. In that split second of distraction, Cullen moved. He didn't attack Aaron, but instead snatched the interference device from his hand and tossed it into the air. Aaron quickly reacted, knowing that Cullen was trying to protect him in his own way, but that it also meant he couldn't complete his mission.
Chapter 6: The Price of the Ripple (Part 5)
Aaron and Cullen engaged in a fierce confrontation. This battle was no longer about revenge or protection; it was a clash of two different ideologies. Cullen believed that sacrifice was necessary for humanity's grand ambition, while Aaron believed that a future built on lies and sacrifice was meaningless. Aaron used his precise control of spatial ripples to create a series of energy barriers within the hub, trying to trap Cullen. Cullen, in turn, used his familiarity with Stargate technology to expertly evade Aaron's attacks.
Chapter 6: The Price of the Ripple (Part 6)
Just then, Lilith's voice came through on his comm unit: "Aaron! We did it! The interference devices at five hubs have been activated, but we still need three more!" Aaron knew he had no more time to waste on a fight with Cullen. He made a daring decision. He used his spatial sense to converge all the energy within the hub, creating a massive, chaotic ripple. The ripple was non-lethal, but it would completely disorient Cullen's senses.
Chapter 6: The Price of the Ripple (Part 7)
Cullen was overwhelmed by the sudden ripple, and his movements became confused. Aaron seized the opportunity, lunging forward and knocking him to the ground. He didn't hurt Cullen; he simply restrained him. He retrieved the interference device from Cullen's hand and quickly installed it at the hub's core. "Cullen, this isn't for me. This is for all of us," Aaron said, not looking at Cullen again as he activated the device.
Chapter 6: The Price of the Ripple (Part 8)
A vast, silent flash of light emanated from the Stargate hub on Earth, neutralizing the Stargate Corporation's transmission wave. The energy flash spread rapidly to the other seven hubs, and all transmissions were halted in that instant. The Stargate Corporation's "New Dawn" project was completely stopped, but the cost was immense. Some Stargates were permanently damaged by the energy surge, communication between the surface and the colonies was thrown into chaos, and some small cargo transports and manned space pods were trapped in hyperspace, unable to be retrieved.
Chapter 6: The Price of the Ripple (Part 9)
The Stargate Corporation's conspiracy was fully exposed, and their rule was plunged into an unprecedented crisis. The surface resistance organization seized control of several key Stargate hubs and demanded that the Stargate nobility be brought to justice. Life in the floating city was severely impacted; the nobles were trapped in their city, their opulent lives collapsing in an instant. Lilith publicly released more evidence from within the floating city, proving the Stargate Corporation's deceit and selfishness.
Chapter 6: The Price of the Ripple (Part 10)
Aaron's heroic actions spread throughout the surface, and people hailed him as a savior. However, he himself suffered a severe physical backlash from overusing his spatial sense. His body became weak, and his spatial sense became intermittent; he could no longer perceive ripples with the same precision as before. He stood in the midst of the surface ruins, gazing at the floating city that no longer shimmered in the sky. He knew he had won this war, but he also knew that victory came at a great cost. He had lost a friend, and he had lost his most precious gift. His journey, however, was far from over.