The temple seemed to grow bigger and bigger as Tyger walked up toward the entrance. The material was black smooth rock with little sparkles of crystal on it. Amazing how an ancient primitive race could build sought wonder.

Tyger stopped in front of the door. It was five stories tall, but it has no handles on it.

“Now that is a big door,” said Red. “They must have been giant creatures.”

Tyger glared at the door. “We need to get through. Any ideas?”

Kristy held up her hands and shook her head. “I have no clue.”

“I can try blowing it open,” Red suggested.

Tyger stepped away. “Do it.”

Red smiled and pulled out his cannon.

After the other ran and stood behind him, Red aimed his cannon and blasted it. The energy blast hit the door, but it bounced off. It flew up toward the ceiling and exploded.

A few chunks of rocks fell down where the blast had hit the ceiling. Tyger and the others jumped apart before the rocks hit them.

Red stared at the ceiling as he placed his cannon away. “Well, that didn’t work out.

Tyger growled and kicked the door.

Suddenly, the door shook and slowly opened.

Tyger and the other stared at the door with surprises on their faces.

“I guessed it needed a kick,” said Red.

“But how come it didn’t open when Red blasted it?” Rila asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” said Tyger. “Let’s move on.”

Behind the giant door, they entered a large circular chamber, about as big as a football field. It was empty with no other passageways in sight. But the only thing in the chamber was a giant black cylinder structure, standing at the center.

“What is that thing?” Rila asked.

On the center of the cylinder, a red light flashed on with a yellow beam on it, appearing like an eyeball. It looked down at the team.

“Hello?” it asked with a loud mechanical voice.

Tyger aimed his rifle at the eye while Maya’s hands glowed. Kristy quickly stepped in front of them. “Wait! Let me talk to it!”

Tyger lowered his rifle and stared at her. “Are you sure?”

“If that thing is hostile, it would have attacked us already.”

Tyger shrugged. “That makes sense.”

Kristy walked toward the cylinder. “Hello! What are you?”

“I am the Vault,” the cylinder answered. “The Keeper of the Shield Breaker.”

“How did you translate our language?” Maya asked.

“My senses scanned your vocal speech when you stepped in here. I was programmed to speak to many life forms, no matter how they speak.”

Maya placed her finger on her chin. “Fascinating. Alien artificial intelligence. I predict it lasted for centuries.”

“An Inaccurate guess I am afraid. I have been functioning for a billion years. This holding complex kept me preserved for that time.”

“I hope it isn’t Skynet,” said Red.

“What is the Shield Breaker?” Tyger asked.

The red eye turned to him. “A device meant to shut down enemy shields. It was a gift from the Sonkrus to help the Ghuqors defend their world against the Scarabs.”

“Are the Ghuqors the ones who lived here?” Rila asked.

“That is correct. Because they are primitive, they didn’t have a chance against the Scarabs. Before their defeat, they constructed me to keep their gift safe from the enemy.”

“Do you still have it?” Kristy asked.

“Yes, I was built to keep it safe. Why did you ask?”

“A race of blue alien bugs are attacking our planets,” said Tyger.

The red eye blinked. “Blue alien bugs? I assumed you meant the Scarabs.”

“What are they?”

“Nobody knows exactly or lived to tell. The Scarabs appeared from the beyond and destroyed many worlds in their path. Many believed they came from a different system or a different dimension that isn’t our own. They attacked the worlds to consume their resources for food and to expand their civilization. They cannot be communicated or reasoned with to stop their lethal actions. The Scarabs only exist to destroy and move on.”

“That is terrible,” said Kristy.

“It was tragic. After they eradicated the sentient races, the Scarabs vanished without a trace. They leave nothing behind.”

“Why are they back now?” Maya asked.

“I am not sure. It could be only a coincidence they returned to find more worlds to harvest.

“Can the Shield Breaker stop them?” Tyger asked.

“No, but it can disable their mother ship defenses. If you use it wisely, your species will survive.”

“Can you give it to us?” Kristy asked.

“You may have it, for the sake of your species.” At the bottom of the cylinder, a small hole opened, revealing a shiny golden pyramid shaped relic.

Kristy approached the relic and took it. “Is this it?”

“Yes.”

Red rubbed the back of his head. “I didn’t expect you will give it to us so easily.”

“It was part of my programming, and you are not the Scarabs,” said the Vault. “Now I must return to my rest. Good luck.”

The Vault closed its eye and turned silent.

Kristy stared at the relic. “Easy as pie.”

Tyger looked at the relic with a grin. “Now let’s take it to the fleet.”